Hello folks, I wish to thank you all who helped me late last fall when I was informed that I had a high LDL level. At that time my numbers were: LDL, 209: HDL, 61: Trig.48, Total Cholesterol, 280. I've been taking a natural approach to lower the LDL's. Policosanol 20 mgs./before bed with a snack, garlic, omega 3 fatty acids/foods high in and a supplement and Take Control margarine and I walk every day. Here are the current numbers: LDL, 190, HDL, 73, Trig., 53, Total Cholesterol, 274. Now, here is my question.....should I be concerned? The doctor is not happy with the LDL at 190--says it should be 130 especially with the family history of heart desease. PLEASE HELP.....I hear so folks speak of the "ratio" and my doctor does not mention it. I forgot how to figure the ratio-divide 73 into 274?????? Many of you have much more experience than I, I would like to get your opinions. Thanks a lot, Rebeckah

Rebeckah,

I think you will get a few different views on this. Yes, the 190 mg/dL LDL-C is high, and yes, its a traditional risk factor. However, I can tell you first hand that even with this value <130 mg/dL, plaque buildup can occur, and I would attribute that primarily to low HDL-C (say <40 mg/dL), high triglycerides, which resulted from obesity and sedentary lifestyle, and led to Type II diabetes, which facilitated the progression of heart disease.

What I am trying to convey is that the whole picture is more important than a little part. Someone with a cholesterol of 300 and and HDL of 100 is most likely going to be healthier than someone like me, who had a 200 total cholesterol and 25 HDL. You see the former case everyday, usually not having multiple stents in their mid 30s, while in the latter case....

What you have going for you are fantastic levels of HDL-C and triglycerides, your total/HDL-C ratio is 274/73= 3.75 which is pretty close to optimum (3.5). I have seen others here use a triglyceride/HDL-C ratio as a predictor, but I am not as knowledgeable about that ratio as a predictor, though from what I remember, your ratio being <1.0 is fantastic again.

The changes you made were the right with respect to lowering LDL and raising HDL. If your doctor wants to prescripe a lipid-lowering drug to help you reduce your LDL-C, it will be up to you to decide, really. I am not sure what I would do in your place given that its only your LDL-C thats elevated. In my place, the decision is much less complex because I try to minimize any and all risk factors now--thanks to CHD.

Read "Lowering Your Cholesterol Without Diet" by Dr. William Parsons. He describes exactly how to lower cholesterol and why diet is so ineffective. Very informative book.

Jay

Dear ubernier, I was very happy to hear from you. Thank you for your reply. I hope you are doing well managing your CHD. Thank you again for the encouragement. Rebeckah

Hi Jay, thanks for your reply. I will check this book out on my next trip to the public library. Thanks again, Rebeckah

Thanks Rebeckah--yes doing great managing it. I have not felt this good since my teenage days, which was 20 years ago. Looking forward to an appt this morning where I find out the results of my latest lipid and hepatic panels.

urbiener, how were your test results? (How quickly I may have forgotten how to spell your name). Rebeckah

Rebeckah,

I was floored at the results. They were about as strange as when they took me off Tricor (which lowers triglycerides) and my triglycerides went down instead of up. Anyway, I had to reduce the Niacin I took from 1500 mg to 500 mg because it was resulting in elevated bilirubin and wreaking havoc on my hepatic panel. I expected to lose the benefit to my HDL by having it drop, and for my LDL to go up some. Couple this with the fact I just had spent the weekend eating Paella, and other wonderful foods at restaurants, with fudge for dessert, anyway you get the picture.

My results from January were:

Total: 102 mg/dL, LDL: 51, HDL: 44, Trig: 34

I was ecstatic then, my HDL had never been above 40 before, I weighed 175 lbs and was running every morning.

My results from last week were:

Total: 143 mg/dL, LDL: 67 HDL: 70, Trig: 31

I weighed 153 lbs. I never thought my HDL would a) be able to go that high and b) be larger than my LDL. My GP had me convinced that going from 25 to 45 mg/dL would be just about be impossible for someone with my genetic profile. I can't wait to see his face next month when the numbers are sent to his office.

In the end result, I am beginning to think that in some cases, such as mine, that diet has a minor impact, exercise a large impact, but the weight at which one is at is a huge factor in the resultant lipid profile.

At this stage, the most important thing I have learned is not to stop at a point where its considered "good enough." I have heard this from my doctors with regards to a) diabetes--7.2 A1c is good enough? No, mine is 4.7 now and I can eat what I want thanks to weight loss, b) 172 lbs is good enough, your HDL is 44? No, I lost another 19 lbs and my HDL is now 70, which is above the 60 level for the lowest risk factor, and c)No need to exercise so much, 2-3 times per week at 30 min is good enough? No thanks again, I exercise every day that I can do it, 6-7 days a week, without it my weight would not come down, nor would my HDL go up like that, and finally d) You don't need to run or do high intensity workout to get exercise? True to a point, but you aren't going to get the same benefit either. In fairness, my cardiologist is the only one that continued to encourage weight loss and increasing running; then again, he is a vegetarian and a runner also.

Back to the visit and the end result: Discontinued niacin prescription, reduction of the remaining blood pressure med to its lowest dose (Altace, 5 mg). In the last 13 mos, I have went from 7 prescription meds (other than zyrtec for allergies) to just 1 now, and hopefully soon, none.

Anyway, thanks for asking. Sorry to make a short story so long--just wanted to convey how surprised I was at these results for many factors.

Ulrich



[This message has been edited by ubernier (edited 05-01-2003).]

ubernier,
hi. so your not on cholesterol meds now? do you take vitamins(excepy niacin) or anything else?

phja,

Have not seen you post in some time till recently (welcome back?)

No, no cholesterol meds now. The only ones I really took were the tricor, for the triglycerides mainly and to minimally lift HDL, then Niaspan/Niacin to give the HDL a boost.

The supplements I take though are lengthy http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Fish oil 2-g tablets x 2 a day, Ginko Biloba 400 x 2 a day, Zinc 50 mg, B12 500ug I think, B6 (need to check dose), Folic acid 800, aspirin 325 mg, and one multivitamin.

My prescription meds: 5mg Altace, 10 mg Zyrtec (for allergies).

WOW!!! ubernier/Ulrich, great job on it ALL! You desreve a great big commendation for your effort and determination!!! I am so happy to hear it. I certainly agree with you on going further than the doctors say. We want the BEST quality of life we can have and that's the way to have it. Keep up the great work and thanks again, Rebeckah

ubernier,
yes, its been awhile. how high was your cholesterol at its highest?

From memory, my highest reading was in 1997, it was 290 from what I remember, I know my HDL was 30, and I think that my triglycerides were 611? at that time...so that would have put my LDL at about 139.

Thats when I was put on tricor, which brought my next cholesterol to 192, triglycerides 108, HDL 32, LDL 138. As time went on with the sedentary, fast food filled lifestyle, my triglycerides crept up towards 155, and HDL dropped downward towards 25. My total cholesterol remained below 200 the whole time.