Hello all,

I am new here. Today I recieved my blodd test results, and learn that I am borderline high cholesterol.

I am 47, recently quit smoker (god help me stay quit), a bit overwieght (OK, 15 lbs), and recently started rigoruos excercise (45 minutes fast walking up and down a damn hill every night, weight lifting every other day).

I believe that a slight reduction in food, continued excercise, lose the weight, should do OK. Oh, the results were 211 total, 198 trigs, 135 LDL, 43 HDL. The doctor suggests Lipitor.

Look, I'm not against modern medicine. I just don't like to take drugs unless it is absolutely needed.

I'd like to hear some opinions.

What's your family history like? Those numbers are better than my wife's 95 yr old grandmother and 70 yr old parents!

I'd be more inclined to bring the Triglycerides down. What's your diet like.

You've taken MAJOR steps by quitting smoking and starting to excercise - this will help more than the Lipitor.

I can't believe your doctor would even think about a statin. You have changed your lifestyle and are living healthy. I think you are doing ALL the right things..

To help aid your thoughts on cholesterol and how it relates or doesn't relate to heart disease..

Look at the website, ravnskov.nu

Act..I'm with looney on this one. U seem to be doing many of the right things, so ask the dr. if he/she can give ya at least another 6 months on your present schedule to see if the numbers come down more. Stay away from carbs. as much as U can, especially for the Trigs. If you are not diabetic, have high BP or a family history of heart attacks at early ages, try to avoid the meds. if possible. Read some of the posts here, might help.

I was on statins in 2000 and got very bad side effects, so decided to try and get the numbers down with diet and exercise. It has been a long and SLOW process, but they are coming down. I know some folks who take the drugs and do very well on them, but folks like myself who can't tolerate them have to go the slow route. Yesterday I got my new numbers, they were better then in Jan. but still not as good as yours. I wish you all the luck in the world, and congrats. on the stopping smoking...WAY TO GO!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif JJ

Thanks for all the input. My BP is 120 over 70 with a pulse rate of 70. As to history in the family, my mother had a heart attack at 50, is still alive today at 76. My dad is alive at 77.

Since I only quit smoking 3 weeks ago, and am trying to change diet in the last week, I think this borderline level should be treated naturally first. My diet has not been good. OK, lets be real honest. For a 47 yo I have been a bad boy. Way too much rich food and sweets. I consider peaunt M&Ms to be one of the four major food groups (along with Cheeseburgers, fries, and anything else high in fat and low in nutrition). Smoked 2 packs a day. lazy slob.

But hey, I can change. Honest. Considering how I treated it my body is OK. OK, maybe 20 lbs overweight.

I will talk with my Doctor, but I doubt I will take the drugs. He wants to administer and test my blood again in 2 months. I'll be out of country then and back around Thanksgiving. I think I will continue my plan and test then. My high cholesterol isn't going to kill me in that timeframe I don't think.

Thanks again.

Well at least you admit you were a "bad boy" so now time to get a grip. Like you said, with some chages in diet and some exercise you will probably live to see see a 100. Have yourself a great and safe trip, and try to behave yourself!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif JJ

Wow. Another year flies by. This post is a blast from the past for those who replied. For the record, yes, I have stayed off the evil smokes. I have stayed with the excercise and diet changes. No, I am not an adonis. I dropped from 220 to 200. Vanity wants me to lose another 10 but truthfully I am probably healthy as is.

Best of all, I was RIGHT. I did not need any drugs to change my cholesterol levels. Here is a recap

test 2002 2003
total 211 147
trigl 198 72
LDL 135 85
HDL 43 47

YEEHAW.

Hi Act:
That's an incredible accomplishment. Congratulations and keep staying healthy! I hope you told your doctor "told you so".

Nice work Act!!

Part of me wants to see you drop 10 lbs also, because a) you want to and b) I am curious about whether or not your HDL will come up even more after you lose a little more weight?

Thanks. of course I said I told you so. You know the one thing all children learn in every culture? Its:

Nah nah nah nah naaaah naaaaah,

This last 10 lbs is tough. And today I sinned in celebration. But. tomorrow at 5 AM I shall be out again. Plus, you see so much wildlife at 5 AM. Hard to drag out of a nice bed, but once up easy to go.

I do my running at 4:30 am. I end up scaring a few cats along the way (heh, if it were daylight, people might be scared of me too). Every once in a while I run up on an animal and its not a cat, but an opossum--it ends of scaring me.