T
Turbo Kid
Guest
So, I'm a student pilot in my very early 20's and I am trying to figure out how to manage my cholesterol. I have been monitoring my lifestyle habits the last decade or so after my father had a heart attack in his 30's and my grandfather had one in his 60's. Both of them have high cholesterol, maintain a good diet and are not overweight. So that leaves me: extremely active, maintaining a healthy diet as preventative, and not overweight. To monitor my risk for cardiovascular issues I decided to go to a Cardiologist for blood work in the end of 2022 (after getting 1st class medical mid 2022) and discovered I unfortunately have high cholesterol. I spent all of 2023 changing even more of my lifestyle eating better, working out more, no drinking/smoking (nor ever have for that matter for personal reasons), and just went back in for blood work again and just got the results back in early 2024 that my levels increased an additional 20 points. I know that I have a few years of 3rd class remaining but would like to renew my first class again sometime this year.
Having said all of that, I am looking for preventative options and everything points me to statins. Is this an issue for maintaining my 1st class medical being on statins and are there any restrictions? Also how do the airlines/ FAA with getting an ATP license view this issue? Also (I know that this is case by case) but has anyone personally had any negative side effects/ experience to statins?
I am open to any suggestions since regardless or not if I continue to fly career-wise unfortunately have to make some changes to be around for a while.
Having said all of that, I am looking for preventative options and everything points me to statins. Is this an issue for maintaining my 1st class medical being on statins and are there any restrictions? Also how do the airlines/ FAA with getting an ATP license view this issue? Also (I know that this is case by case) but has anyone personally had any negative side effects/ experience to statins?
I am open to any suggestions since regardless or not if I continue to fly career-wise unfortunately have to make some changes to be around for a while.