Help understanding cholesterol

fit44

fit44

Cathlete
I have to fill out a survey for my insurance company. They asked me for my cholesterol numbers, so I called my doctor's office for the numbers.
My numbers were total 223 HDL 137(slightly elevated) and LDL 73
So my high LDL is good right?

Are these numbers bad since I have a high LDL?
I'm afraid the insurance company will look at the 223 as bad. My doctor never mentioned a problem or medication. She knows I work out and eat well. She comments on it everytime she examines me.

So if my cholesterol is high with a healthy diet, do I need medication? Are the numbers bad if I have allot of the good stuff?

HELP PLEASE! I don't understand?
 
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the bad cholesterol (think 'lousy" cholesterol) because it transports cholesterol to the arteries.

HDL (high-density liiproprotin) is the good cholesterol (think "helpful" cholesterol) that transports cholesterol out of the body).

It's good to have a high HDL number, but a high LDL number is not good.

Overall cholesterol level is not as important as the ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol.

Our bodies make all the cholesterol we need, and if we eat a diet too high in fat, our bodies can make too much. Cholesterol also comes from animal products (no plant products contain cholesterol) because it is made by the liver (and plants don't have livers.;-) )
 
Cynthia, I had the same situation and posted about it last summer I think. If you have high HDL don't worry about it, that's a good thing - at least that's what I learned in my research. Also learned that athletes and regular exercisers tend to have elevated HDL levels in general

HTH, Sparrow

My garden is filled with papayas and mangos
My life is a mixture of reggaes and tangos
Taste for the good life, I can live it no other way
- Jimmy Buffett
 
Thank you!


I'm feeling much better. I don't want to take medicine!
I'm upset because when my doctor took my blood screen, she said she would call me if there was problem.
When I called to get my numbers, the office tech said my numbers were too high.
I guess they are if you look at the "total", but individually they are not so bad. I should reduce the amount of animal meat I eat to lower the LDL below 130.
 
> I should reduce the amount of animal meat
>I eat to lower the LDL below 130.
>
I'm confused. Isn't your LDL 70-something (according to your original post)?

Also, avoiding transfats (any "hydrogenated/partially-hydrogenated" oils...don't trust labels that say "trans-fat free," because manufacturers can use that claim if a product contains less than .5 gm. of trans fat per serving. Look, instead, at the ingredients.)
 
Oops.... I'm sorry, your right! I reversed the numbers

My total is 223,
LDL is 137
HDL is 73
 
>> I should reduce the amount of animal meat
>>I eat to lower the LDL below 130.
>>
>I'm confused. Isn't your LDL 70-something (according to your
>original post)?
>
>Also, avoiding transfats (any
>"hydrogenated/partially-hydrogenated" oils...don't trust
>labels that say "trans-fat free," because manufacturers can
>use that claim if a product contains less than .5 gm. of trans
>fat per serving. Look, instead, at the ingredients.)
>


I understand about the hydrogenated oils. I really don't eat allot of processed food unless I'm cheating with candy:)

Sorry for the confusion. I reversed the numbers in my first post.
 
Without knowing your age, if you are pre or post-menopausal, or familial cardiac risk factors, here is what I have to say (as a not-yet dr...but 2nd year medical student)

People would pay for your cholesterol numbers!
We shoot for the LDL to be under 130 and the HDL to be over 40 or so. (according to current practice guidelines). If I had my way, I would try to have all LDL under 100 and HDL over 50. BUT...your HDL is SO high (which is GREAT) that it protects against the minimally over-what-we'd-like LDL.

I am assuming you are not overweight.
If you have had a father die of heart disease before the age of 55 or a mother die of heart disease before the age of 65, I might consider putting you on a statin (probably Lipitor as Crestor...the other one...is the most potent and has the most side effects).

I would hope the insurance company wouldn't penalize you for your LDL. As long as you don't have any other risk factors, there really is no reason to treat you. I wouldn't diagnose you as "hypercholesterolemia" or "dyslipidemia" at this time. I would hope the insurance companies would use a diagnosis and not try to diagnose you themselves. But, alas, insurance companies are out to make money (isn't everyone?) so if they can, they will.

For example, I have essential hypertension (high blood pressure) that is totally genetic. I am 24, 5'4", 118 lbs, and a Cathe fanatic. My diet is clean (except a bit of ice cream here and there). My blood pressure cannot be lowered by lifestyle modifications (since I am already doing all the "right" things). Medications (HCTZ and Lisinopril) have lowered my BP down to 107/78. There are no consequences of high BP if you keep it controlled, yet the insurance company still decided to raise my premiums by 50%. Now understand, had I not pushed my doc for meds to control my BP (so that I would never have eye problems, kidney problems, or heart problems from it), my insurance wouldn't have gone up! But, since I decided that I needed $7/month meds to trt something that will save my insurance company thousands from in the future (the complications of untreated high BP are outrageous!) they decided to penalize me. Go figure. I will be the first to say our health care payment system is WAY out of whack. (anyway, *gets off her soap box*)

Becky McGilligan
MS-2
Florida State University College of Medicine
 
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