High Cholesterol?

S

sparrow

Cathlete
Hey Ladies!

Quick question about cholesterol for anyone who knows. I recently found out through an insurance physical that my cholesterol is borderline high, 223, which really surprised me! The question I have though, is how that total number is arrived at. Apparently, my triglycerides are in the "optimal" level, my LDLs (the bad stuff) are in "normal" range, and my HDLs (the good stuff) are in the "high" range. So, if the only thing high in my level is the good cholesterol, does that mean I don't have to be concerned about the overall number, because the HDLs might be driving it up?

TIA!

Sparrow
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
What a coincidence! I found out the exact same thing, only my total number is 257! i balked at him giving me Lipitor, so my doctor let me go this time and said I can try to get it down with diet and excercise. He will check it again in October. I just took 3 books out of the library today on food you should eat to lower your cholesterol.
 
Hi Sparrow!

I think as long as your triglycerides and HDL are in a good range I wouldn't be overly concerned about your total number. It's just something to keep an eye on at this point. You need to look at your cholesterol level within the proper context. In the absence of other indicators, like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, family history of any of the above; then I wouldn't lose any sleep over it at this point.

It's amazing to me how much the guidelines have changed since I graduated from nursiong school. 240mg/dl was once considered a normal cholesterol level. Doesn't that just blow your mind!? They want your blood pressure to be BELOW 120/80 now, and your blood sugar to be 100 or less (normal used to be 70 - 110). It was much easier to be healthy 20 years ago--lol!

ETA here's a nice chart put out by the American Heart Association:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3038638

Michele:)
 
Thanks Michele :) BTW, how is your MIL doing?

I googled a bunch of stuff on high HDL levels last night, and apparently it's actually a positive thing. Everything I found, from medical sites to Dr. Weil, said that a high HDL is fantastic but can also make the overall level of cholesterol seem high. Also, endurance athletes (and obsessive Catheites, we can assume :p ) tend to have HDL levels that are 40 to 50 percent higher than the average person. Something to do with being able to metabolise fat efficiently.

Medical types feel free to correct any of this :)

Sparrow


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
Sparrow...did they give you the actual numerical results? If not, ask your doctor for your complete profile so you have the numbers and know exactly where everything is. Just telling you that something is 'high' or 'low' is meaningless in the whole as well as just giving you the total cholesterol number.

A good book to read on this topic is, "Good Fat Bad Fat", by William P. Castelli, MD. In this book you will find all the information you need to be able to understand your cholesterol panel. My DH has bad cholesterol due to family genes, and he has to take a statin drug.
 
That's a good question. Unfortunately, for me I've always had high LDL. The last time had mine checked it was at 115. However, that was with 10 mg of Lipitor. I've recently given up meat, so I'd like to see what that did for my overall number of 195.

Is high cholesterol genetic for your family? I know just about everyone in my family is taking some kind of statin. :-( I know that they need to "move it" a little more, OK maybe a lot more! ;-)

Good luck getting the answers you need.

Dallas
 
>Thanks Michele :) BTW, how is your MIL doing?
>
>I googled a bunch of stuff on high HDL levels last night, and
>apparently it's actually a positive thing. Everything I
>found, from medical sites to Dr. Weil, said that a high HDL is
>fantastic but can also make the overall level of cholesterol
>seem high. Also, endurance athletes (and obsessive Catheites,
>we can assume :p ) tend to have HDL levels that are 40 to 50
>percent higher than the average person. Something to do with
>being able to metabolise fat efficiently.
>
>Medical types feel free to correct any of this :)
>
>Sparrow
>
>
>Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of
>arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but
>rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn
>out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage


Hey Sparrow! It sounds like you've done your homework. Truly, I don't think you have anything to be concerened about. I'm curious about how your doctor interpreted the results.

Thanks so much for asking about my MIL. She's doing well although she becomes short of breath with activity. She goes to the doctor today and we're all anxious to see what he has to say. She has always been so active and it's frightening and sad to see her in this reduced state. My FIL has not been in the best of health and is somewhat dependent on others for help. I know this weighs heavily on my MIL because she can't take up the slack like she used to. I'm glad we live near by and can pitch in as needed. Thanks again, Sparrow. It was really thoughtful of you to inquire:)

Michele
 
Dallas...I believe they want your LDL under 130, so your statin is doing the job for you.

My DH has not had his cholesterol panel done since he started on the statin, but he goes in in two weeks for the blood draw. We are anxious to see if there has been an improvement. He has also changed his diet and started walking almost everyday. He is not overweight, his problem is a combination of genetics and not eating properly. Heart disease is in his family and he has five siblings...only one has a good cholesterol panel...and that brother is very strict about his diet and exercise regime. All the rest have horrible cholesterol numbers like my H.

I would like to see my H eventually get off the statin drug and control his cholesterol with proper diet and routine aerobic exercise.
 
Hey All,

Michele, my doc has not seen these results. It was from the insurance company, who sent their own roving paramedic to give us the physical before we became clients. I'm toying with calling the doctor just to ask.

Fortysomething, I did get my numbers: overall, 223, triglycerides, 91, LDL, 100, and HDL, 103 (average for women is 40-50!) I do have genetics working against me too, virtually every aunt on my mom's side has high cholesterol. Again though, it seems that if you have high "good" cholesterol, and low everything else, it's ok. I'd just like to confirm that so if that is not the case I can take steps to lower it. I'm not giving up butter without all the facts, gosh darnit. :D

You know, I read something a couple of years ago about the hulabaloo about cholesterol being "junk science" but can't find any info now. I'd be curious to read it again.

Sparrow


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
Gosh 40something, I have done the exercise thing and pretty restricted diet (was still eating meat and diary) and could not get my cholesterol below 200 without meds. I sure hope your dh can get off the meds. That's my goal someday too! The report I'm looking at right now says for LDL to be below 100. I just looked at the triglycerides and they are at 29! Is that too low? I'll check out that book you recommended.

Sparrow, let me know if you find the info about "junk science". I would be skeptical of that, but would still be interested in reading it. I would probably talk to a doctor to see what he has to say. Not that I put a lot of faith in doctors these days. :-(

Dallas
 
Sparrow,
I have an HDL of 156 which is unbelievable so of course my total cholesterol is more (244) then what is even considered borderline high. I am not on medication because my actual risk ratio is considered extremely low according to my cardiologist. (I see a cardiologist because of a mitral regurgitation.) She said she "wouldn't even dream of putting me on medication" because my HDL is "off the charts." Total numbers are really a guideline....as the others have stated, your doctor will determine if you are at risk by using all your numbers.

HTH,
Robin
ETA: What did your doctor say about your results???? Anything?
 
Dallas...my DH has a long way to go. His cholesterol panel is in the dangerous area.

His one brother who is the only kid of six to have good cholesterol is as lean as a string bean. He runs every day, rain, shine, sleet or snow. MOF he just got a treadmill, our old one! He eats meat but he eats mainly fresh vegetables to get as much fiber into his diet as he can. He eats very little sugar and no junk foods what-so-ever. He rarely drinks alcohol too. His diet and exercise regime rival military bootcamp and like I said, he is absolutely the leanest person I know. So, will be interesting to see if he outlives his brother's and sister's since they all are coming from the same gene pool.
 
Robin, I had a moment of silence for your awesome HDL level!! The doc hasn't seen my results, it was done through the insurance company.

Dallas, ask and ye shall receive :D I googled "cholesterol myths" instead of "cholesterol junk science" and a bunch came up. The first link contains a lot more links. HTH!

Sparrow


http://www.thincs.org/links.htm

http://www.newtrendspublishing.com/Ravnskov/SBbookReview.html

http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
40something, your bil's diet sounds a lot like mine. Well, I do partake in sweets and an occasional glass of wine when we go out to dinner. Are you saying he got his cholesterol under control all thru exercise and diet alone? Sorry, to go on about it, but if it's even possible it gives me encouragement to keep at it. I hate taking medicine! I've had several doctors say that it just won't happen (lowering cholesterol w/diet and exercise alone) for me. I'll e-mail you with more questions. Sorry Sparrow!

Sparrow ~ Thanks for those links. I'll look at them later. I'm in the middle of major de-junking that I now need to get back at it!

Dallas
 
Dallas...unfortunately, that BIL did not have his cholesterol panel done until well over a year after he started running, changing his eating. Their father (my FIL) died of a massive heart attack and that was a wake-up call for all of the siblings...but only the one brother did anything about it right away. So, we don't know where this brother's numbers were before he turned to diet/exercise to combat heart disease. But...he says he does the fasting test every year for his yearly physical and that his cholesterol is always good. My H and their oldest brother are by far the worse. Interesting though that one of their sister's who also now runs (and she's now training for a half marathon) her cholesterol continues to be bad despite all her exercise. BUT...she eats like there's no tomorrow, drinks booze every single day, and is probably 20/25 pounds over weight. If she'd quit the drinking she'd probably lose the weight and improve her cholesterol numbers, but she's an alcoholic and doesn't see her excessive drinking as "a problem". Needless to say she doesn't dare go on a statin drug because of her drinking. That one has a dismal future if she doesn't change her ways. FIL was also an alcoholic, got absolutely no exercise, and ate crap. His mother died of heart attack in her fifties, FIL was 60 but he had been having problems for months prior to the heart episode but wouldn't see a doctor cause he knew the doctor would tell him to lay off the beer/whiskey and he didn't want to hear it.

My SIL drinks a gallon of rum or vodka every weekend. I don't know how many she goes through during the work week. But she denies having a drinking problem so that's that. You can't force an alcoholic to quit.

So, a few glasses of wine aren't going to be detrimental I don't think. My H is still having a couple of beers on Saturday's but he's cut out all beer during the week.
 
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