Family history of high cholesterol

Dear Ask The Doctor: I was on 40 mg of Zocor. Cholesterol was 218 on 40 mg. Dr. increased me to 80 mg. I was concerned about side effects of Zocor especially at this high dosage. Cholesterol is genetic in my family. I wanted to see what was really going on so I stopped the Zocor and had additional testing done. Lifeline screening carotid artery screening as normal. HDL was 78. C-reactive protein less than 0.3. Triglycerides 90. Cholesterol 300 and LDL 204. My BMI is 25.8. I am active and eat a healthy diet. Do I really need to be on 80 mg of Zocor?

Dear Mary: Your blood cholesterol levels are outside of the normal ranges, on discontinuation of cholesterol lowering medication. Optimal total cholesterol and optimal LDL cholesterol levels are <200mg/dL and <100mg/dL respectively. Because of your family history of high cholesterol, your body may produce more cholesterol than is required for normal bodily functions, and this places you at increased risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke. I would advise recommencing statin medication at the necessary dose, in addition to dietary and lifestyle modifications, to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels to within optimal ranges, and adjustment of the required dose as tolerated by any side-effect profile.