My name is Angela, 24 years old.

I had my last FASTING cholesterol check up in November of 2001 and here is my reading-

Total: 222
HDL: 80
LDL: 136
Triglyerides: 32

****am scared because I am getting another FASTING blood check up on Tuesday. I donate blood every 56 days and they give you a free NON FASTING cholesterol check and here are the 2 two visit readings-

June 03': 226
August 03': 237

I know the NON FASTING are not as accurate but it makes me think my cholesterol is even HIGHER http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

I eat VERY healthy on the weekdays (shredded wheat, boneless skinless chicken, apples, prunes, whole wheat bread, black eyed peas, northern beans, green beans, mixed veggies.... not all in one day but spread out through the week). I do NOT eat any red meat on the weekdays. I am VERY BAD on the weekends http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/nono.gif As I eat red meat, french fries, ice cream http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif I just hate to deprieve myself all week, ya know?

I do exercise, as I get 45 mins of cardio, 5 days a week. I am very active and my weight is 130lbs at 5 foot 7 inches. My blood pressure is normal and I do not have any other health issues.

So, can someone tell me what I should do? I am really scared about getting my cholesterol checked next week http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif

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Angela(24) and Richard(30)

Angela,

Actually, your numbers are incredibly GOOD. Forget about the total cholesterol number. Ratios are of far greater significance. And your ratios are fantastic. Your good cholesterol(HDL)is excellent, and your triglycerides are incredibly low, which is great. So, to give you an idea of where you stand, please consider this:

The total cholesterol/HDL ratio should be 4.0 or less. Yours is 2.78. That's very good.

The LDL/HDL ratio should be under 2.5. Yours is well below that, at 1.7.

Ideally, your triglyceride/HDL ratio should be 1.0. A ratio of 2.0 is considered borderline normal. But your ratio is extremely good! It is just 0.4!

So please stop worrying. You are very fortunate to have such favorable ratios. And please stop worrying about that total number. That number is considered significant only if your ratios are poor.

Thank you for your reply BUT that reading was taken in Nov of 2001 and did you see the TOTAL (NON FASTING) of the recent ones? That makes me scared http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

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Angela(24) and Richard(30)

The change in TC is really not all that significant, nor is it surprising. Cholesterol values often fluctuate, both upwards and downwards. What did your most recent blood test reveal in terms of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides? These are the key missing pieces. Without them, a total cholesterol number means very little.

Arizona,

If what you say is true about the ratios, then I'm hurtin'! My last readings (September, 2003) were 177 total, 27 HDL, 88 LDL, and 314 Tri's. That puts me at:

Chol/HDL - 6.6 (<4.0 is normal)
LDL/HDL - 3.3 (<2.5 is normal)
Tri/HDL - 11.6 (<1.0 preferred, <2.0 acceptable)

OUCH! Hopefully, my recent diet changes and exercise will improve those numbers over time. Plus, my Tri's were likely skewed by eating high amts of carbs just before my 12-hr fast began. =P

Amazingly, upon further calculation, simply raising my HDL's to 45 would put me in the normal ranges for the first two ratios and simultaneously lowering my Tri's to under 100 would put me close the the last one. Do-able, I would think?

Starling,

You just might be the ideal candidate for the low-carb diet. The two most pronounced advantages of such a diet is its dramatic lowering of triglycerides, and its elevating effect on HDL. Supplemental niacin may also give your HDL a further boost. Fish oil and lecithin can also help. I think it is important for anyone taking fish oil to keep in mind the fact that any oils, even fish oil, are vulnerable to becoming oxidized, or rancid, even inside the body. For that reason, it is often advised that supplemental antioxidants also be taken, especially vitamins C and E.

When I donate blood and check it for non fasting, they do not give the HDL/LDL and trigylerides http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif Oh well, my cholesterol FASTING test is on Tuesday and I will post the results once I get them.

Someone above mentioned that they ate high carbs before their 12 hour fast... Well, I did when I had that FASTING test and it did not make my tri's high... I am confused??

Should I really change my diet any?

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Angela(24) and Richard(30)

[This message has been edited by AngelaNRichard (edited 10-11-2003).]

Don't jump to any conclusions until you receive the results of your blood test. If your numbers and ratios are similar to what they were two years ago, as I hope and suspect they will be, then you should not need to make any dietary changes.

Thank you Arizona http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Angela(24) and Richard(30)

starling,

Like you I started with a hideous HDL=27 giving me a horrible TC:HDL ratio of 10.0.
I found the singularly best way to get the HDL's up is with cod liver oil and lecithin daily. Lipitor got it up to 35 and the fish oil/lecithin up to 68.
That hideous 10.0 ratio went to below 3.0.

Good luck with your efforts.
(I got weight loss and very low triglycerides with Atkins but no cholesterol benefits...some DO get good results)

zip2play,

How much lecithin and cod liver oil did/do you take each day? I've been considering supplementing my diet, but am not sure where to start. Am occasionally taking Flax Oil and CoQ10, but that's it.

starling,
I take a tsp. of cod liver oil which gives me about 1000mg total Omega 3's (EPA+DHA) and about a Tbsp. of granular lecithin.
I also take a 100mg CoQ10 capsule. And a faithful 1200 mg. folic acid.