Hello, Your question of whether you should be on Lipitor, a statin drug, or not is a complex one. First of all, the FDA didn't lower anything to 150. What doctors look at when determining whether you should be on a statin or not involves the levels of LDL-C, HDL-C and they look at triglycerides, symptoms, cardiac risk factors and genetics. Statin has become the first line of approach - did you have a "lipid profile" done or just look at total cholesterol? If you do not wish to be on statins, assure that the doctor made his decision by looking at all parameters including the lipid profile and your AGE. At 68 and with an excellent lifestyle, do you really need drug intervention? I, too, would question your need for a statin medication based on my opinion stated above. Thank you for checking with HCM.

Here, I think you are confused. FDA did not lower any level to 150. That has been the cut-off for triglycerides for years. And, the term borderline hasn't been used in years either. There is no such thing as borderline anything now in lipid interpretations. They are very clearly defined by the ACC, the AACE, the ADA and the AHA. Total cholesterol optimally should be arount 180 mg/dl although below 200 is acceptable, but that is only one value to be considered. The HDL should be greater than 50 and the LDL below 100 unless you have diabetes and then LDL should be lower than 70.You are right to question being on a statin.Yes, there is such a procedure. And, atherosclerosis can be caused by calcium not just cholesterol. Get a second opinion and to lower triglycerides take DHA and EPA omega 3 acids. Thank you for coming to HCM. Kathy Shattler, MS,RDN