Ramie
01-09-2005, 11:15 AM
Hi -
I'm new to this topic. We just got my husbands lab results from a hospitalization a year and a half ago. I was very concerned by some of his labs as no mention was made of these while he was in the hospital or when he saw his physician for follow-up.
i would like to share them here to get your feedback. I know little about cholesterol so if you wouldnt mind giving me the "for dummies explanation."
I am very worried about my husband. He has health issues and I feel that the doctors don't really care about anything other than getting paid (I also just discovered from the hospital lab results that my husband has hypothyroid which we were never informed of nor was he ever started on medication).
Choleseterol 158 - 129-200 normal range
HDL 28 - 32 - 96 normal range
LDL 104 - 62 - 159 normal range
Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Stay well,
Ramie
I'm new to this topic. We just got my husbands lab results from a hospitalization a year and a half ago. I was very concerned by some of his labs as no mention was made of these while he was in the hospital or when he saw his physician for follow-up.
i would like to share them here to get your feedback. I know little about cholesterol so if you wouldnt mind giving me the "for dummies explanation."
I am very worried about my husband. He has health issues and I feel that the doctors don't really care about anything other than getting paid (I also just discovered from the hospital lab results that my husband has hypothyroid which we were never informed of nor was he ever started on medication).
Choleseterol 158 - 129-200 normal range
HDL 28 - 32 - 96 normal range
LDL 104 - 62 - 159 normal range
Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Stay well,
Ramie
Sponsor
jtu91952
01-09-2005, 12:17 PM
Your hdl is very low. My drs say 40 and above is good.
Uff-Da!
01-09-2005, 12:25 PM
Most of us would be jumping for joy if we had a TC and LDL like that. The HDL, though, is low, causing the ratio of HDL to TC to be bad.
To increase HDL, he could do many things, depending upon what applies to his situation.
1. get regular aerobic exercise
2. stop smoking
3. lose weight
4. cut out or way down on trans fatty acids (anything that says "partially hydrogenated ___ oil" on the label, like margarine and prepared foods. Also commercially prepared cakes, cookies, chips, fried foods, etc.)
5. substitute olive oil and canola oil for other oils in cooking and in salad dressings.
6. add soluble fiber to the diet (oatmeal, oat bran, legumes, prunes, etc.)
7. and :D have a glass of wine a day, if he isn't already consuming alcohol
To increase HDL, he could do many things, depending upon what applies to his situation.
1. get regular aerobic exercise
2. stop smoking
3. lose weight
4. cut out or way down on trans fatty acids (anything that says "partially hydrogenated ___ oil" on the label, like margarine and prepared foods. Also commercially prepared cakes, cookies, chips, fried foods, etc.)
5. substitute olive oil and canola oil for other oils in cooking and in salad dressings.
6. add soluble fiber to the diet (oatmeal, oat bran, legumes, prunes, etc.)
7. and :D have a glass of wine a day, if he isn't already consuming alcohol
Tobias
01-09-2005, 12:25 PM
Here's a site where you can get basics on cholesterol. Check out the links in the patients section.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/
There are lifestyle and dietary modifications that would raise HDL.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/
There are lifestyle and dietary modifications that would raise HDL.
Uff-Da!
01-09-2005, 12:31 PM
Or try a Google search on cholesterol "to increase HDL". Include the quotes around "to increase HDL."
NineLives
01-09-2005, 06:46 PM
With the total cholesterol being 158 that doesn't sound bad, but when you combine it with an HDL of 28 that makes the risk factor 5.64 (158/28) which is cause for concern. A risk factor above 4 really needs to be looked at closely. Niacin might help raise that HDL. The LDL normal range of 159 I believe has been modified and it should actually be below 130. Some even say below 100 and recent evidence from the New England Journal of Medicine says LDL below 70 greatly decreases the risk of a coronary event. With the figures you've stated it would make his triglycerides 130 which is within normal range. (total cholesterol= HDL+LDL+trigs/5) He just needs to work on raising that HDL and he would be in pretty good shape concerning his blood work.
Ramie
01-09-2005, 09:31 PM
Dear Nine Lives,
Oh thank you so much for this information. My husband was hospitalized a year and a half ago with severe chest pains. They ran him through the usual ringer of tests and gave him a clean bill of health!! No one ever mentioned is cholesterol was so out of balance. I only discovered this when we requested his medical records. At the same time, I also discovered he had hypothyroid and again, no one pointed this out to use either.
I have already started him on the omega 3's to get his HDL level up. Should he take niacin or niacinomide (spelled something like that?).
Thank you very much for your help. These boards have been life savers.
Stay Well,
Ramie
Oh thank you so much for this information. My husband was hospitalized a year and a half ago with severe chest pains. They ran him through the usual ringer of tests and gave him a clean bill of health!! No one ever mentioned is cholesterol was so out of balance. I only discovered this when we requested his medical records. At the same time, I also discovered he had hypothyroid and again, no one pointed this out to use either.
I have already started him on the omega 3's to get his HDL level up. Should he take niacin or niacinomide (spelled something like that?).
Thank you very much for your help. These boards have been life savers.
Stay Well,
Ramie
Uff-Da!
01-09-2005, 10:32 PM
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is used in cholesterol control, but not niacinamide. Before you start taking niacin, though, you really should read up some on it's use in cholesterol control. A therapeutic dose is usually considered 1000-2000 mg., but I would never consider a dose like that without having a liver enzyme test first (simple blood tests) and checking with a doctor about other conditions which might make niacin therapy inappropriate for him. Liver disease, heavy alcohol consumption, and diabetes, for example, are all contra-indications.
What I personally did when I decided that diet alone wasn't going to do the trick, was to start with 250 mg. Endur-acin (a time-released niacin available online) daily for a couple of months before I was scheduled for my next doctor visit and lab work on my cholesterol. The doctor then added the liver enzyme tests to the lab order, and since they came back fine and my lipid profile had improved a bit but not enough, she had me increase my Endur-acin to 500 mg. daily. I'm now on 750 mg. Endur-acin, which is controlling my cholesterol adequately. I see on the Endurance Products website that maximum improvement in HDL will often occur at 500 - 1250mg for Endur-acin. You would want to check with the manufacturer of whatever brand you buy to see what the figures are for that brand, as they could differ. Frankly, it may be that niacin isn't even needed for your husband if you see several things you could change in his diet as I mentioned in my earlier post.
If he does decide to take niacin, you should be aware that it is available in immediate-release or sustained-release forms. Both will give a flush (like a major hot-flash) for half an hour or so after taking it until the body gets used to it, but the sustained release form has a much reduced flush. The sustained release form tends to be more toxic mg. for mg., though it usually takes less of it to get the same cholesterol-changing effect. But at the lower doses I expect your husband would be taking, that may not be a concern. The flush can also be reduced by (a) taking an aspirin half an hour before the niacin, (b) taking the niacin with meals (c) starting with a low dose and gradually building up over a period of weeks.
Even at relatively low doses, regular liver enzyme tests should be done to make sure it isn't negatively affecting the liver. (The doctor will recommend a timing, but initially after 6-8 weeks, then after 3-6 months seems to be pretty common.) Liver damage doesn't happen often, but in the few cases it does, catching it early can prevent permanent serious damage.
What I personally did when I decided that diet alone wasn't going to do the trick, was to start with 250 mg. Endur-acin (a time-released niacin available online) daily for a couple of months before I was scheduled for my next doctor visit and lab work on my cholesterol. The doctor then added the liver enzyme tests to the lab order, and since they came back fine and my lipid profile had improved a bit but not enough, she had me increase my Endur-acin to 500 mg. daily. I'm now on 750 mg. Endur-acin, which is controlling my cholesterol adequately. I see on the Endurance Products website that maximum improvement in HDL will often occur at 500 - 1250mg for Endur-acin. You would want to check with the manufacturer of whatever brand you buy to see what the figures are for that brand, as they could differ. Frankly, it may be that niacin isn't even needed for your husband if you see several things you could change in his diet as I mentioned in my earlier post.
If he does decide to take niacin, you should be aware that it is available in immediate-release or sustained-release forms. Both will give a flush (like a major hot-flash) for half an hour or so after taking it until the body gets used to it, but the sustained release form has a much reduced flush. The sustained release form tends to be more toxic mg. for mg., though it usually takes less of it to get the same cholesterol-changing effect. But at the lower doses I expect your husband would be taking, that may not be a concern. The flush can also be reduced by (a) taking an aspirin half an hour before the niacin, (b) taking the niacin with meals (c) starting with a low dose and gradually building up over a period of weeks.
Even at relatively low doses, regular liver enzyme tests should be done to make sure it isn't negatively affecting the liver. (The doctor will recommend a timing, but initially after 6-8 weeks, then after 3-6 months seems to be pretty common.) Liver damage doesn't happen often, but in the few cases it does, catching it early can prevent permanent serious damage.
NineLives
01-10-2005, 02:36 PM
Should he take niacin or niacinomide (spelled something like that?).
Ramie
Two of my brothers and myself take niacin as recommended by our doctor. All three of us go to the same doctor and she recommended the non-flushing type that you can get over the counter. My siblings and myself all have low HDL. One brother struggled getting his above 25. His is finally 39. The other just found out that his HDL is low and just started on niacin last week. I take Zocor and have taken niacin but I take breaks from it because I worry that the niacin along with Zocor could be too taxing on my liver. So far all my liver function tests have been fine though. My HDL when last checked was 47. It was about 32 when my blockage was found.
Ramie
Two of my brothers and myself take niacin as recommended by our doctor. All three of us go to the same doctor and she recommended the non-flushing type that you can get over the counter. My siblings and myself all have low HDL. One brother struggled getting his above 25. His is finally 39. The other just found out that his HDL is low and just started on niacin last week. I take Zocor and have taken niacin but I take breaks from it because I worry that the niacin along with Zocor could be too taxing on my liver. So far all my liver function tests have been fine though. My HDL when last checked was 47. It was about 32 when my blockage was found.
Uff-Da!
01-10-2005, 04:18 PM
NineLives, I'm curious as to what dosage you are taking. And how about the brother who brought his up to 39 from a mere 25. Do you know what dosage he is taking?
Also, what form of niacin are you taking? You say "non-flushing," but some use that term for niacinamide, some for Inositol Hexanicotinate, and occasionally one even hears that term for the sustained-release nicotinic acid (though that is more "reduced flushing" than "non-flushing"). I've read some places that niacinamide does not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as nicotinic acid, though I am seeing some places that sell it say it does. There has been relatively little research reported on the Inositol Hexanicotinate form that I could find. So I'm curious what is working for you and was recommended by your doctor.
Also, what form of niacin are you taking? You say "non-flushing," but some use that term for niacinamide, some for Inositol Hexanicotinate, and occasionally one even hears that term for the sustained-release nicotinic acid (though that is more "reduced flushing" than "non-flushing"). I've read some places that niacinamide does not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as nicotinic acid, though I am seeing some places that sell it say it does. There has been relatively little research reported on the Inositol Hexanicotinate form that I could find. So I'm curious what is working for you and was recommended by your doctor.
jtu91952
01-10-2005, 09:48 PM
Do either of you know if Niaspan have niacin in it. Is it a statin and can diabetics take it?
ZippyDawg
01-10-2005, 09:57 PM
NIASPAN® is the only prescription extended-release form of niacin. Do not switch to another form of niacin, as it may cause damage to your liver.
Flushing (warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling of the skin) is the most common side effect. This sensation usually occurs when you start taking NIASPAN® or when your NIASPAN® dose is increased, and becomes less frequent over time. In most patients, flushing is mild to moderate. Some people may experience more severe and intense flushing. Additional symptoms may include rapid or pronounced heartbeat, shortness of breath, swelling, sweating, chills, dizziness, and in rare cases, fainting. Other common side effects may include headache, pain, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, itching, and rash. These are usually mild and tend to go away.
NIASPAN® may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, you should carefully check your blood sugar levels and report any changes to your doctor.
Flushing (warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling of the skin) is the most common side effect. This sensation usually occurs when you start taking NIASPAN® or when your NIASPAN® dose is increased, and becomes less frequent over time. In most patients, flushing is mild to moderate. Some people may experience more severe and intense flushing. Additional symptoms may include rapid or pronounced heartbeat, shortness of breath, swelling, sweating, chills, dizziness, and in rare cases, fainting. Other common side effects may include headache, pain, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, itching, and rash. These are usually mild and tend to go away.
NIASPAN® may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, you should carefully check your blood sugar levels and report any changes to your doctor.
NineLives
01-11-2005, 02:09 PM
NineLives, I'm curious as to what dosage you are taking. And how about the brother who brought his up to 39 from a mere 25. Do you know what dosage he is taking?
Also, what form of niacin are you taking? You say "non-flushing," but some use that term for niacinamide, some for Inositol Hexanicotinate, and occasionally one even hears that term for the sustained-release nicotinic acid (though that is more "reduced flushing" than "non-flushing"). I've read some places that niacinamide does not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as nicotinic acid, though I am seeing some places that sell it say it does. There has been relatively little research reported on the Inositol Hexanicotinate form that I could find. So I'm curious what is working for you and was recommended by your doctor.
The thing is I can't say for sure it's the niacin helping, because all of us have made lifestyle changes as well and I take other supplements that the one brother doesn't. I'm not able to give you the exact dosage and type of niacin I take at this point because I don't have the bottle with me. I think it's 528mcg? and I'm really not sure which term is used for they type of niacin, but will post that tonight. The one brother noticed a quicker increase in his HDL when he was started on Vytorin along with niacin. I take flax seed oil and try to only eat healthy oils and stay away from hydrogenated oils so it's difficult to say yes it is definitely the niacin creating the increase. The doctor originally put my brother on the niacin that can cause flushing. I believe it was purchased over the counter. He had problems with flushing so she recommended the non-flush. She's has never stated a specific type or dose of niacin. She recommended that we follow the label directionsl.
Also, what form of niacin are you taking? You say "non-flushing," but some use that term for niacinamide, some for Inositol Hexanicotinate, and occasionally one even hears that term for the sustained-release nicotinic acid (though that is more "reduced flushing" than "non-flushing"). I've read some places that niacinamide does not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as nicotinic acid, though I am seeing some places that sell it say it does. There has been relatively little research reported on the Inositol Hexanicotinate form that I could find. So I'm curious what is working for you and was recommended by your doctor.
The thing is I can't say for sure it's the niacin helping, because all of us have made lifestyle changes as well and I take other supplements that the one brother doesn't. I'm not able to give you the exact dosage and type of niacin I take at this point because I don't have the bottle with me. I think it's 528mcg? and I'm really not sure which term is used for they type of niacin, but will post that tonight. The one brother noticed a quicker increase in his HDL when he was started on Vytorin along with niacin. I take flax seed oil and try to only eat healthy oils and stay away from hydrogenated oils so it's difficult to say yes it is definitely the niacin creating the increase. The doctor originally put my brother on the niacin that can cause flushing. I believe it was purchased over the counter. He had problems with flushing so she recommended the non-flush. She's has never stated a specific type or dose of niacin. She recommended that we follow the label directionsl.
jtu91952
01-11-2005, 02:28 PM
Thanks Zippydawg. I am not sure now if i want to use niaspan. My cholesterol was 243tc and ldl 166 trigs 16o ( i think that is correct). My hctz caused my cholesterol problem.