I encouraged my husband to get his cholesterol checked at his last physical for the first time. Mine is insanely low at 140, i've had it tested many times in my life. He got his results back - 248! His hdl was 91 but his ldl was much higher. Oddly enough, his triglycerides were low, in the 90's as well.

I don't understand how this can be. First off, he is more fit than I am, much more fit. Runs marathons, isn't overweight (i am by about 10 pounds) and he's only 35. We both eat the same foods - all supposedly good for cholesterol levels. We only use olive oil in the house, never eat red meat, drink a glass of red wine maybe 2 times a week, lots of vegetables, fiber and low-fat choices. Plenty of high quality low-fat protein in the form of chicken, turkey, salmon or mahi mahi.

So everything the doctor "recommended" on the notes forms of my husband's test we're already doing. We've been doing for years. His parents have normal cholesterol levels.

IS IT POSSIBLE - the only thing we can think is that even though my husband fasted starting the night before his cholesterol test, we were in new orleans and ate terribly for the 5 days before that. We always eat so healthy when we're at home that when we're on vacation we cut loose. Beignets, beer, gumbo, jambalaya, muffuletta, he had it all - 3 meals a day. Would that jack up his cholesterol "artificially"?

I'm stumped and worried for him. This is the first time he's ever been "unhealthy". His dad had a heart attack 5 years ago and i'm scared he's headed for that, in spite of his great fitness and health habits.

Thank you - catherine

I would not worry about his numbers - his ratios are more important and they are excellent. High HDL and low Trigs are great to have. And, low trig numbers correlate directly with have a large amount of subtype "a" LDL which is said to be similiar to HDL and harmless. Actually I would be more concerned about your number being too low and having a stroke. You should increse your saturated fat intake with good animal fats. Read....
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Did his doctor say his numbers were really bad because I'm not seeing it that way? With his total at 248 and his HDL at 91(which by the way is excellent) that would make his risk ratio 2.7 which is very good. His trigs being in the 90's is excellent. Even if his trigs were 99 that would make his LDL 139 which could be better but I believe the other numbers really make that LDL not a concern at all.

Thanks to both of you for such quick replies!

Interesting about my # possibly being too low. I don't know my exact stats but last time I was checked my ratio of HDL to LDL was very good. I'm going for my annual physical tomorrow & am going to get it rechecked then.

The doctor said his results were "slightly abnormal", but the charts on the lab form showed 248 as being well into the high range so my husband's in a bit of a bunch about it. I think his LDL was 140 or 141. And when he spoke to his father, his dad said he should probably be concerned about it. His father's cholesterol's been around 200 until last year when it jacked up to around 270 and now he's on medication. It took him until he was 70 before it went up though, which is why we're so concerned about my husband's being so high right now.

I only found out about all of this last night when I got home from work. I am going to ask the doctor when I go in tomorrow - it's the same doc my husband went to. We both just moved here & scheduled an exam with a new physician just as standard practice so we'd have a local practitioner. I'm kind of peeved that the doctor just mailed the results, no real explanations except the standard schpiel about eating less saturated fat, good oils, less red meat - stuff we already do.

Thanks!

Here are his #'s:

Total cholesterol: 248
Triglycerides: 91.6
HDL: 91.7
VLDL: 18.3
LDL: 137.9
Chol/HDL Ratio: 2.7

But on the same form it says "any LDL results greater than 100mg/dl should be considered potentially elevated in high risk individuals" and the cholesterol, HDL and LDL numbers are also flagged as *HIGH* on the form.

Most doctors are educated by their pharmecuetical reps. Numbers have to be looked at in relation to the whole lipid profile. 248 would be bad if his HDL was 35 and his trigs were 250, but they are not. Don't listen to opinions and do your own research of peer reviewed independant studies, not studies sponsored by drug companies. No one benefits from ststins over the age of 50 unless they have serious problems.
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Those numbers aren't really that bad except LDL which is a bit higher than optimum. The HDL reading is "to die for". Triglycerides in the 90's is also very good reading.

I wouldn't be that concerned unless his next test showed an increase in LDL pushing ratios toward the "red zone".

I wouldn't worry about it too much because the HDL level is very high and very protective.
To lower the high LDL, he could try supplementation with some fish oils to get his Omega-3's up and a lot of soluble fiber (like oatmeal, beans) might help.

Maybe 2 glasses of wine a day instead of a week might be a good idea.

The fact that the two of you eat the same and yet have such disparate lipid numbers really indicates the role that genetics plays in blood lipid levels, doesn't it?

diertac,

I also agree with the other respondents. There is no need for your husband to be alarmed about those numbers. Pay no attention to those flags on the lab report. By themselves, they are not indicative of high risk, although it is understandable that some people may become alarmed whenever they see something flagged. These numbers are only part of an equation, or profile which is later assembled. Everybody is different. For example, for someone with an HDL of, say 40, a total cholesterol of 240 may be considered high. But for someone such as your husband, who has an HDL of 92, a total cholesterol of 240 is hardly much of an issue. Ratios are what counts in my opinion. ALL of your husband's ratios are excellent. A TC/HDL ratio should be less than 4.0. Your husband's is 2.7. The LDL/HDL ratio should be 2.5 or less. Your husband's is 1.5. And his trig/HDL ratio is only 1.0, which is practically ideal! So stop worrying. Everything is fine. Oh, and let us know what the doctor has to say about it. I'm more than curious. One thing is for certain. He does not need statins.

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But on the same form it says "any LDL results greater than 100mg/dl should be considered potentially elevated in high risk individuals" QUOTE]

Your husband does not seem to be a high risk individual - good diet, exercising, no diabetes etc. so the 100mg boundary does not really apply to him. If someone has several risk factors then they want these levels horrendously low compared to what a healthy individual can live with quite safely.

I wouldn't worry. He sounds like he's doing fine. :bouncing: