NaomiLedbetter
10-17-2003, 12:37 AM
Hello! :)
I rarely ever go to the doctor but I had a blood test recently and got the results, which I don't understand. (A paper comes with it to explain but it's not clear enough for me.) It says my total cholesterol is 269mg/dl, HDL is 58, and LDL is 191. Triglycerides 100mg/dl. I am 38 years old. Is this bad???
Whoever can answer this, thank you so much!! :)
I rarely ever go to the doctor but I had a blood test recently and got the results, which I don't understand. (A paper comes with it to explain but it's not clear enough for me.) It says my total cholesterol is 269mg/dl, HDL is 58, and LDL is 191. Triglycerides 100mg/dl. I am 38 years old. Is this bad???
Whoever can answer this, thank you so much!! :)
Sponsor
AngelaNRichard
10-17-2003, 10:06 AM
The only thing that is bad is your LDL... It needs to be under 130. Other than that, everything looks good. Your total cholesterol may be a little high.... not sure. I am sure our expert, Arizona, will answer your post :)
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Angela(24) and Richard(30)
November 2001 Blood Test Results:
Total- 222
HDL- 80
LDL- 136
Triglyerides- 32
Blood Sugar- 73
Next Check-up on Oct 14th, 2003 :)
[This message has been edited by AngelaNRichard (edited 10-17-2003).]
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Angela(24) and Richard(30)
November 2001 Blood Test Results:
Total- 222
HDL- 80
LDL- 136
Triglyerides- 32
Blood Sugar- 73
Next Check-up on Oct 14th, 2003 :)
[This message has been edited by AngelaNRichard (edited 10-17-2003).]
zip2play
10-17-2003, 10:36 AM
Naomi,
Results aren't good but hardly one foot in grave material.
Total is high and LDL is high and your ratio: 269/58= 4.6 is also higher than the 4.0 that is considered a desirable maximum. (HDL on it's own is fine)
You'll want to take some kind of action to lower those LDLs quite a bit. Usually first recommendations: cut your total fats especially saturated fats (replace them with monosaturates like canola and olive). ELIMINATE trans-fats (hydrogenated oils). Excercise and get weight to normal. Eat fish and chicken preferentially to beef and pork. Lower dairy consumption.
If that doesn't work after several months, then some drug intervention might be necessary.
Results aren't good but hardly one foot in grave material.
Total is high and LDL is high and your ratio: 269/58= 4.6 is also higher than the 4.0 that is considered a desirable maximum. (HDL on it's own is fine)
You'll want to take some kind of action to lower those LDLs quite a bit. Usually first recommendations: cut your total fats especially saturated fats (replace them with monosaturates like canola and olive). ELIMINATE trans-fats (hydrogenated oils). Excercise and get weight to normal. Eat fish and chicken preferentially to beef and pork. Lower dairy consumption.
If that doesn't work after several months, then some drug intervention might be necessary.
pcovers
10-17-2003, 01:34 PM
The only way you will get your LDL down is to either lower your Total colesterol or substantially increase your HDL. You will not likely substantially increase your HDL, so the point of focus is your total. If you reduce your total, your LDL will come down accordingly.
One other way of reducing ones LDL is to raise your trigs, which is an absurd correlation. Keep your trigs where they are. Keep up your HDL up, higher is always better. Lower that total as has been recommended through diet change, exercise, and weight loss, possibly supplements such as niacin.
Drug intervention would be your last resort but is always an option.
One other way of reducing ones LDL is to raise your trigs, which is an absurd correlation. Keep your trigs where they are. Keep up your HDL up, higher is always better. Lower that total as has been recommended through diet change, exercise, and weight loss, possibly supplements such as niacin.
Drug intervention would be your last resort but is always an option.
NaomiLedbetter
10-17-2003, 03:20 PM
You guys have no idea how much I appreciate your help. This is my first time with this doctor and she did not even write a note on my results, nor did anyone contact me about the results being poor. I had to call them myself and speak to an advice nurse this morning who wasn't very helpful at all and told me very little. I got more info from you guys than from her! Again, thanks ever so much.
What I'd like to ask you guy now is, I just lost weight - went from 140 last December to about 110 a month ago (still aorund there, though 109 this morning). I am 5' 1". Since it's only been a month since I've had my weight lowered, is it too soon to see results on my cholesterol? I used to eat a poor diet but it's much improved during this year, though still not perfect. I walk about 3 times a week for about 30 minutes or so. I eat plenty of chicken and tuna and rarely eat stuff like hamburgers anymore and have given up chocolate since December (I used to eat it just about every day). Why are my numbers still crappy?? (Though I never knew what the numbers were while I was overweight!)
My mother's overall cholesterol is about 430 (her body way overproduces it) so I'm worried that I have inherited this from her. If I do have to take meds, does anyone have any recommendationd for which is best (one with the fewest side effects)?
Thanks again ever so much. I'm so frustrated with my doctor right now and having to go online to get the answers SHE should be giving me!!
What I'd like to ask you guy now is, I just lost weight - went from 140 last December to about 110 a month ago (still aorund there, though 109 this morning). I am 5' 1". Since it's only been a month since I've had my weight lowered, is it too soon to see results on my cholesterol? I used to eat a poor diet but it's much improved during this year, though still not perfect. I walk about 3 times a week for about 30 minutes or so. I eat plenty of chicken and tuna and rarely eat stuff like hamburgers anymore and have given up chocolate since December (I used to eat it just about every day). Why are my numbers still crappy?? (Though I never knew what the numbers were while I was overweight!)
My mother's overall cholesterol is about 430 (her body way overproduces it) so I'm worried that I have inherited this from her. If I do have to take meds, does anyone have any recommendationd for which is best (one with the fewest side effects)?
Thanks again ever so much. I'm so frustrated with my doctor right now and having to go online to get the answers SHE should be giving me!!
WarBonds
10-17-2003, 04:51 PM
Naomi,
You are absolutely right and I re-echo what you said about this site being helpful and informative.
Over the past several months, I have been reading this cholesterol site on a regular basis and I really appreciate the knowledge that the "regular" folks have given us, such as PCOVERS, ARIZONA73, ZIP2PLAY, UBERNIER, PSALM 91, and a few more too. (You guys feel like old friends now.....smile!).
Thanks everyone....I certainly never got this insightful info from my doctor!
Keep up the good work and ideas flowing too!
WarBonds
You are absolutely right and I re-echo what you said about this site being helpful and informative.
Over the past several months, I have been reading this cholesterol site on a regular basis and I really appreciate the knowledge that the "regular" folks have given us, such as PCOVERS, ARIZONA73, ZIP2PLAY, UBERNIER, PSALM 91, and a few more too. (You guys feel like old friends now.....smile!).
Thanks everyone....I certainly never got this insightful info from my doctor!
Keep up the good work and ideas flowing too!
WarBonds
Magpiezoe
10-17-2003, 05:01 PM
Hello Naomi, You're really not getting enough exercise to lower cholesterol. According to my American Heart Assoc. phamplet, which you can get for free online or sent to your home from the American Heart Assoc., we need to exercise 5-7 days per week for at least 30 min. per day. 60 min. is even better and you don't have to do it all in one clip. You can go for a 30 min. walk in the afternoon and do 30 min. of light aerobic activity in the evening. (Stationary bikes are good light aerobic activity.)
Since you're already thin at 110 lbs., you'll want to get more advice from your doctor on diet. Doctors can be vague, so you do need to ask questions to get really clear ideas on what you need to work on. Some people need to cut down on carbs, some need to cut down on fat, some need to cut down on both and everyone needs oats, fruit, and vegies for fiber. Good luck.
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Magpie
Since you're already thin at 110 lbs., you'll want to get more advice from your doctor on diet. Doctors can be vague, so you do need to ask questions to get really clear ideas on what you need to work on. Some people need to cut down on carbs, some need to cut down on fat, some need to cut down on both and everyone needs oats, fruit, and vegies for fiber. Good luck.
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Magpie
ARIZONA73
10-18-2003, 12:58 AM
Naomi,
No, I don't think you have one foot in the grave. Although your numbers(and probably most everyone else's)could probably be better, they are not altogether bad. Zip2play and Magpie already gave you some pretty good advice. They are all worth considering. One thing to keep in mind is that there really is no "one size fits all" protocol that is guaranteed to work for everyone.
It would be nice if most doctors were better informed, and a little more open-minded about the value and health promoting effects of certain nutritional supplements, especially the antioxidants. Other than simply reaching for the prescription pad, just how can they be expected to help you? Very little, I'm afraid. They'll prescribe the standard "one size fits all diet", and then ask you to come back in a few months to be retested. Having failed the retest, the doctor will then recommend a cholesterol lowering drug. The truth is, most doctors are ill-equipped, uninformed, and lack both the time and patience to accomplish very much through nutritional alternatives. Many times, the mere mention of nutritional supplements will often provoke a sarcastic remark or two.
The one key factor which you have going for you is your relatively high HDL. It is certainly possible to raise this level significantly higher, and at the same time lower your LDL, and without prescription drugs. That would improve your ratios considerably, and greatly lower your overall risk. At least, that has been my experience. Fortunately, I have saved all of my blood test results, and would like to share with you the overall improvement that I have experienced since 1989:
1989 2002
Total Cholesterol 249 234
HDL 68 107
LDL 152 114
Triglycerides 144 65
TC/HDL 3.66 2.19
LDL/HDL 2.24 1.07
Trig/HDL 2.12 0.61
The only lifestyle changes I have made during this time is that I have pretty much cut out all of the junk foods from my diet, and have started walking at least 2 miles 3 or 4 times a week. Other than that, I am taking several nutritional supplements(my medicine cabinet is full of them), including high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants, especially vitamin E, helps prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized, thus less damaging. As a matter of fact, not only do statins deplete coenzyme Q-10, but they also cause vitamin E levels in LDL to drop and LDL, in turn, oxidizes more quickly than normal. This may actually increase the damage to blood vessel walls.
[This message has been edited by ARIZONA73 (edited 10-18-2003).]
No, I don't think you have one foot in the grave. Although your numbers(and probably most everyone else's)could probably be better, they are not altogether bad. Zip2play and Magpie already gave you some pretty good advice. They are all worth considering. One thing to keep in mind is that there really is no "one size fits all" protocol that is guaranteed to work for everyone.
It would be nice if most doctors were better informed, and a little more open-minded about the value and health promoting effects of certain nutritional supplements, especially the antioxidants. Other than simply reaching for the prescription pad, just how can they be expected to help you? Very little, I'm afraid. They'll prescribe the standard "one size fits all diet", and then ask you to come back in a few months to be retested. Having failed the retest, the doctor will then recommend a cholesterol lowering drug. The truth is, most doctors are ill-equipped, uninformed, and lack both the time and patience to accomplish very much through nutritional alternatives. Many times, the mere mention of nutritional supplements will often provoke a sarcastic remark or two.
The one key factor which you have going for you is your relatively high HDL. It is certainly possible to raise this level significantly higher, and at the same time lower your LDL, and without prescription drugs. That would improve your ratios considerably, and greatly lower your overall risk. At least, that has been my experience. Fortunately, I have saved all of my blood test results, and would like to share with you the overall improvement that I have experienced since 1989:
1989 2002
Total Cholesterol 249 234
HDL 68 107
LDL 152 114
Triglycerides 144 65
TC/HDL 3.66 2.19
LDL/HDL 2.24 1.07
Trig/HDL 2.12 0.61
The only lifestyle changes I have made during this time is that I have pretty much cut out all of the junk foods from my diet, and have started walking at least 2 miles 3 or 4 times a week. Other than that, I am taking several nutritional supplements(my medicine cabinet is full of them), including high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants, especially vitamin E, helps prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized, thus less damaging. As a matter of fact, not only do statins deplete coenzyme Q-10, but they also cause vitamin E levels in LDL to drop and LDL, in turn, oxidizes more quickly than normal. This may actually increase the damage to blood vessel walls.
[This message has been edited by ARIZONA73 (edited 10-18-2003).]
NaomiLedbetter
10-18-2003, 04:51 AM
I love you guys!!!! :) You guys are so wonderful!!
Arizona, that was so informative!! Thank you so much! I am going to print your reply out, in fact. I'm glad that, though my cholesterol is pretty bad, I guess it's not horrible. I can't believe how much you lowered yours!! I hope I can do the same!!
Thanks again!!!!!
Arizona, that was so informative!! Thank you so much! I am going to print your reply out, in fact. I'm glad that, though my cholesterol is pretty bad, I guess it's not horrible. I can't believe how much you lowered yours!! I hope I can do the same!!
Thanks again!!!!!
happyeyes
10-20-2003, 08:49 PM
Arizona, how much vitamin E do you take? I take 400 mg., perhaps I should consider more.
ARIZONA73
10-20-2003, 09:47 PM
Happyeyes,
For quite a few years I had been taking 1,000 units of vitamin E as d-alpha tocopheryl. But I have recently switched over to a mixed vitamin E, one that contains all 4 of the tocopherols(alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), as well as all 4 of the tocotrienols(also as alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Each capsule contains 400 units of tocopherols and 35mg tocotrienols. I take two of these capsules each day.
For quite a few years I had been taking 1,000 units of vitamin E as d-alpha tocopheryl. But I have recently switched over to a mixed vitamin E, one that contains all 4 of the tocopherols(alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), as well as all 4 of the tocotrienols(also as alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Each capsule contains 400 units of tocopherols and 35mg tocotrienols. I take two of these capsules each day.
NaomiLedbetter
10-21-2003, 07:20 PM
Update:
I was able to speak to my doctor over the phone and she said (keep in mind, this is a Kaiser doctor - roll eyes) that if the total numbers add up to less than 399, and I would assume that's including triglycerides, it's still within normal range. Is she full of it or what?? That just doesn't sound right!!! She did finally say my LDL was high, but I am incensed that I had to drag any information out of her. Why do doctors act like your health isn't any of your business??!!!
I was able to speak to my doctor over the phone and she said (keep in mind, this is a Kaiser doctor - roll eyes) that if the total numbers add up to less than 399, and I would assume that's including triglycerides, it's still within normal range. Is she full of it or what?? That just doesn't sound right!!! She did finally say my LDL was high, but I am incensed that I had to drag any information out of her. Why do doctors act like your health isn't any of your business??!!!
cutup
10-22-2003, 01:08 AM
If that is the case Naomi then I'm in trouble and thought I was doing great. All of my humbers are well within normal range except my HDL which is 47. That formula gave me a 427 which according to her formula is not in a good range.
Sometimes doctors are not as up on things as they should be. It's just like any other profession. If you don't keep learning in your field you just can't keep up.
Women are notorious for counting on our gynecologists for all of our health care needs. I have been guilty of that myself because for most of my life that was the doctor I saw the most. I just was hardly ever sick. Alot of them a now telling women that it is not their field and that they really need to be seen by a PCP for other health needs.
The numbers do not have to be all that far out of wack for you to have a problem so stay on top of your doctor and demand good healthcare.
Sometimes doctors are not as up on things as they should be. It's just like any other profession. If you don't keep learning in your field you just can't keep up.
Women are notorious for counting on our gynecologists for all of our health care needs. I have been guilty of that myself because for most of my life that was the doctor I saw the most. I just was hardly ever sick. Alot of them a now telling women that it is not their field and that they really need to be seen by a PCP for other health needs.
The numbers do not have to be all that far out of wack for you to have a problem so stay on top of your doctor and demand good healthcare.
Magpiezoe
10-22-2003, 12:28 PM
Hello, You might want to monitor the vitamin E. I think it's another case of everybody being different. I have had no problems with it and it seems to work for me, but my mother-in-law had problems with it. She told me one day that it made her cholesterol go up instead of down. I thought she was full of it, until I saw an article that vitamin E can elevate LDL cholesterol in some people. I forget why it does that to some people and others it doesn't, but it just one of those things like one diet doesn't work for everyone.
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Magpie
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Magpie