I was tagged by my doctor at 50, after 10 years of near or full vegetarianism. This is with being very active, relatively trim, and doing physical work, and still taking steps two at time B”H. I had a long argument with the doctor about taking the statins. Tnere is no family history of heart disease, the previous generation lived into the 80s and 90s or to 75 with lifelong untreated high blood pressure. The cholesterol is produced in the liver, and is in a chain of chemicals including coQ10. The statin interupts the chain before the coQ10 is made. I, with joints at risk NEED my coQ10, and I did not want the possible side effect of memory loss and joint pain. With attention to diet, almonds, garlic, select greens, and seeds, I knocked down my #s but not to the docs satisfaction. He stopped arguing with me, but you can only do this is the doc is younger than you and you are in way better shape, and you don’t darken his doorstep to often.
Shmos 23:25 ” va’avadtem es Hashem Elokeichem, u’verach es lahmecha v’es maimecha v’hasirosi mahala mikirbecha