I had my yearly check up on Monday and the blood workup results are in...all is fine except my cholesterol numbers aren't that great again this year. And my gyno will be faxing the results to my regular doc. But can someone explain what all this means in English before I go see my Internal Medicine doc.....

Last Year's results
LDL - 149
HDL - 50
Tri - 213

This Year's results
LDL - 163
HDL - 65
Tri - 131

I am 37, weigh 128, 5' 5", athletic average frame female and wear a size 4 or 6 just depends on the brand of clothing. After my knee surgery 4 years ago, I gained a few pounds and when was able to get back in the gym...lost it. At the same time, I also changed my eating habits. I now eat egg whites, less red meat and more fish/salmon, turkey sandwiches (plain) usually for lunch. No chips, don't enjoy sweets, but my weakness is drinking when out with friends. I have cut back on the bud light and have switched to Vodka and Sprite zero and just recently gave up Margarita's. I'm in the gym at least 3 times a week doing cardio/weight resistance training and on the golf course or driving range at least once a week. What else do I need to do? And again, what do these numbers mean? I do have to mention that my dad is on Lipator but I don't want to start taking meds so young. Thanks in advance for any advice anyone might have!

Your ratio is a respectibale 3.9

Don't let age bother you... I've been dealing with high cholesterol and high BP since I was 32. That's life. :)

Consider niacin... it's vitamin B-3. I take it in the form of Niaspan Extended release (prescription only).

Only consider statins (Lipitor, pravachol, zocor, etc) as a last resort. Been there, done that.;)

Thanks Ventureman...I did forget to mention the ratio but are right on. I'll get with my doc on the niacin extended form. I don't have kids yet, so Lipitor and all that other stuff just isn't an option in my opinion. Too risky if I were to become pregnant. Now all I have to do is find foods that are lower in cholesterol and ones that I like. What are the odds?? HA! Thanks again!

Food low in cholesterol have never helped me... never. My opinion is eating foods low in cholesterol is a bunch of croc.

Your liver produces 90% to 100% of the cholesterol in your body... because you need cholesterol. I'm pretty sure my liver produces 100% of my cholesterol.

I cut out all animal fat and cholesterol from my diet for about a year, and my cholesterol went through the roof. I've had the best cholesterol results with diet alone when I was on the Atkin's diet. I'm pretty sure carbs raise cholesterol more than foods with cholesterol like meat and cheese and eggs.

Give the Niaspan a try... you may be luckly like me and tollerate it very well. Make sure to give it a good try for a month... you will get some flushing as you body adjusts. Only take it at bedtime. Some folks take aspirin 30 minutes before the niacin to reduce the flushing. Lenin does this.

Good luck. :)

Thanks again!

In my opinion, you are far to young to be taking a statin. Got only knows what this stuff will do to your body or any unborn children you may have in the future. Research natural methods and think about it carefully before you risk damaging your body to please the big Pharma's.

Melissa,

Your numbers are not that bad. Your LDL is a little high and you should try to lower it - I'd shoot for 130. Your high HDL is very good - it should be over 40 - and your triglycerides are good also.

I wouldn't be too worried - you're a little above the guidelines of 200 total cholesterol - but I don't totally believe in the new guidelines. According to the guidelines of 10 years ago, you're fine. If you don't have any other risk factors - diabetes, smoking, overweight (you're not), immediate family members with heart disease - I wouldn't worry about statins yet.

For me, giving up regular beer, switching to lite, and only drinking a few days a week (total of about 4-5 beers a week - unless I go out with friends) really made a difference in my triglycerides and total cholesterol. I had gotten into the ritual of 2 beers daily.

I also started eating more but smaller meals throughout the day (usually 5 or 6 at 2-3 hr intervals). I used to always skip breakfast, eat a lite lunch, and then eat most of my calories at night - not good!

I'd also look up 'glycemic index' - and try to limit carbohydrates to those that have a low glycemic index. I wouldn't go on a strict 'low carb' diet - just eat carbs in moderation and try to avoid the bad ones (white bread, white rice, white potatoes...)...

Eat more veggies and fruit, get plenty of fiber, drink extra water.

Avoid sugar and trans-fats (anything with 'hydrogenated' or 'partially hydrogenated' in the ingredient list).

Sounds like you have plenty of exercise - keep it up...

Good luck...

HubbleRules
:cool:

Thanks for the responses Lulubells & Hubblerules...I'm going to wait until Dec to get re-tested. In the mean time, I have totally cut out the beer and it's still in my fridge and did not have a rita the other night while my other friends were so cruel and had several. Since I like Rasp Vodka and Zero Sprite, I tried Tequila and Sodawater and 3 limes. I hope that doesn't have too many cals but I think that does turn into sugar, but anyway, I have cut back on the carbs. I think I was eating too many, so I haven't missed my morning slice of toast with egg whites or my daily sandwich for lunch. They've been replaced with fruit and tuna or salmon. Now here's what I don't get...Salmon and Tuna are loaded with Cholesterol but my doc said that was ok, just no shellfish like shrimp. Oh well, time will tell. Still trying to stomach the veges...gag, I hate them all except for green beans. My doc did suggest Garlique but one of my friends parents took it and stunk! She smelled like garlic. Someone mentioned CoQ10. Anyone tried any of these? I'm just trying to avoid perscriptions. Although heart disease does NOT run in my family, my dad does have high cholesterol...I'm still afraid I don't have a chance, but willing to try just about anything. Thanks again for all the responses. Oh! One more thing....if I started just last week to cut certain foods out, how long will it take to see a change in my cholesterol numbers?

Melissa,

Drinking tends to raise your triglycerides. That probably explains most of your 213 last year.


Giving up the Margheritas is a good idea becasue drinking PLUS SUGAR is even worse.

Remember too, that they use your triglyceride level to calculate your LDL so raise one and up goes the other.:angel:

Your new LDL (65) is very nice.

Thanks Lenin. My tri's last year, the year before and the year before that even with working out and changing my eating habits slowly, had been stuck at 213. So, when I heard the other day they went to 131 I was excited! Too bad the other stuff went up...how does that happen? I'm just hoping that with all the recent changes I can get my cholesterol numbers a little lower, but hope I don't have to wait too long! Lowering your cholesterol doesn't take as long as losing weight....does it? I'm patient, but running out of patience...lol!

Lenin...on a previous post on another thread, you said eggs were bad. I eat egg whites daily. Is that still bad? Should I change to those egg beater things?

Thanks!

melissa, egg whites are fine.

Thanks hotdam:D

I use to skip breakfast...I know, that's bad, so last year I did 1 egg white and 1 real egg. Now 2 weeks ago I cut out the regular egg and now do 2 egg whites, but doctor them up with pepper and salsa. I use to put cheese on them but it was low fat. I know, again, bad for cholesterol but last year I really wasn't concentrating on cholesterol #'s just on losing weight. Sometimes I wish I was 25 again when I didn't have to think so hard on what I was eating. I could eat anything and not gain weight nor did I have a cholesterol problem...lol.

Melissa I feel the same way believe me, I have eggs once a week if that, I have been eating oatmeal, with raisins, bananas, cinnamon and mills flax seed everyday for over 2 months, I am also trying to put alot more fiber in my diet. I have seriously changed my entire eating habit, I go back to get my third cholesterol check in Sept, so It better be below 200. I have also been taking fish oil, slo niacin whatever I need to get it reduced also salmon in the can is good (chicken of the sea).tastes like tuna.:D

Thanks again hotdam! Good luck with your test in Sept...keep me posted. I'm not big on oatmeal in the summer, but when it starts getting cooler, I love it as well as Malt-O-Meal.

Your welcome, By the way I dont want to eat oatmeal either especially in the summer but if it helps reduce my cholesterol I doctor it up so it tastes good.

Melissa,

ALL the cholesterol and the saturated fats are in the YOLK of an egg...the whites are almost pure protein so eat as many as you wish...and cats love the discarded yolks (unfortunately SO DO I! :D)

Hey Lenin! Cats, huh? lol....are they good for dogs? I have 2 hairy monsters (Lab and Golden) that would probably love the yolks too but I don't want to raise their cholesterol!! Thanks again, Lenin! Easy on the Yolks! And do you happen to know how long it will take to get my cholesterol down? Speaking of food...time for breakfast and hit the gym. I can at least do some cardio this morning and maybe crunches, but I did all upperbody yesterday and overdid it. No golf or even hitting the driving range for me today...I don't think I could swing the club! Have a great weekend!