only 29... am I too worried? - High Cholesterol Message Board

Wuvable · 05-20-2005, 04:05 PM

I'm 29 year old female. Normal weight, smoker. Bad risk from family. Dad died from a heart attack at 40 (he needed a quad bypass), mom 2 minor heart attacks by 35, 1 grandfather passed away from heart attack and other grandfather had open heart surgury at 32.

Just found out

Total: 203
HDL: 36
LDL: 146
triglycerides: 105
Total/HDL Ratio 5.64

hs-C reactive protein 4.33 (under 0.5 for my age group is norm)

Dr. told me to
1. stop smoking (am working on that asap)
2. modify diet
3. work out
4. take baby asprin and Advicor daily

I'm a little nervous about the Advicor.. starting that tonight.
I'm also a little stressed with worry over this. Should I be?

Uff-Da! · 05-20-2005, 04:36 PM

Taking drugs of any kind is a matter of risk versus benefits. For most people your age and with your lipid profile, the risk of going without the meds while they try to make lifestyle changes would be slim. But with your family medical history, I would personally take them. Read the information on all the possible side effects carefully, so you'll know what to watch for. Most people can take the meds fine, but if you do have a problem, you'll want to inform your doctor promptly. But every one of the things the doctor told you to do could have major importance. Don't expect that the meds will somehow save you from having to do those.

It must be very scary to have a family medical history like that. It is going to take work on your part to make all the changes required of you, but after the initial shock of it all, I'm sure you can get in there and do it.

ARIZONA73 · 05-20-2005, 04:55 PM

Wuvable,

With your family history, I think you should be concerned. You should try to do everything you can in terms of prevention. While your total cholesterol number isn't so bad, I think what would concern me most is your low HDL and high c-reactive protein. Your LDL/HDL ratio is 4.06. Ideally, this ratio should be under 2.5. That can be accomplished by either raising the HDL, lowering the LDL, or both. Your triglycerides are actually pretty good.

First and foremost, I think you need to stop smoking. Smokers on average have lower HDL levels, so I think that if you stop smoking there is a good chance that you will experience an increase in HDL.

Overall, I'd say that your doctor is giving you pretty good advice. And the Advicor? Well, that's a combination drug that contains both a statin and niacin. Your doctor is probably trying to lower your LDL with the statin, while simultaneously increasing HDL and LDL particle size with the niacin. While I do understand your concern, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you run into any problems with it you can always stop taking it. Or, you can talk to your doctor about using niacin instead. As I said, your total cholesterol isn't really that high, it's just that your HDL throws all the ratios off. If you can boost up the HDL with niacin, exercise, dietary changes, and quitting smoking, you may find yourself in much better shape overall.

As far as c-reactive protein is concerned, that is an inflammation risk marker. Daily use of aspirin is not a bad idea, and it may help lower that number. Exercise will also help lower it. Other worthwhile supplements you should consider taking are fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin E, lecithin, garlic, and a high potency B-complex. Additional folic acid may also be a good idea, as it can help maintain homocysteine levels within a normal range.

Wuvable · 05-20-2005, 05:12 PM

Thank you both for your thoughts/advice. Hubby started me on a multi-vitamin today along with the baby asprin.

Three more tests I didn't think to add.

Homocysteine : 7.6 (normal)

Lipoprotein A1: 125 (normal)
Lipoprotein B: 105 (slightly high)

not bad... but I read the ratio between the lipoproteins though isn't so hot... is that correct?

I guess I wonder why my Homocysteine and triglycerides are good but my lipids/c protein are wacky. I know this means something probably about my diet.. but not sure what to change. Not a big snacker at all. Maybe eat less red meats and more veggies is all i can think....

P.S. While I don't work out, I do chase after 3 kids constantly (12, 5, and 1 years). I didn't think i was THAT bad out of shape... guess that's gonna change too.

ARIZONA73 · 05-20-2005, 07:02 PM

Wuvable,

I can't comment too much on apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B. All I know is that the apolipoprotein A1 is associated with HDL and the Apo B is associated with LDL.

One reason why people have high triglycerides is because they consume far too many refined carbohydrates, starches, and sugars. People who snack a lot often consume too many of these bad carbs. Actually, lowering triglycerides is one of the easiest things to do, provided people have the will power to stay away from certain foods. Being active and of normal weight also helps. So, since you are of normal weight, and not a big snack eater, I'm not surprised that your triglycerides are within the desireable range.

Elevated homocysteine doesn't come from eating things like eggs or saturated fats. Elevated homocysteine is a vitamin deficiency which mainly comes from suboptimal blood levels of the B complex vitamins, especially folic acid, B6, and B12. You need these vitamins to make the enzymes that remove homocysteine from your body.

Has your doctor checked your lipoprotein(a) level? This is another serious risk factor. It's possible for some people to have relatively normal cholesterol levels but dangerously high Lp(a) levels. That alone can be an independent risk factor. With your family history, this is probably something else which should be checked.

A multi-vitamin supplement is fine, but I would also be sure to include extra vitamin C, vitamin E, fish oil, lecithin, and even garlic. These can all help promote higher HDL levels. And, like aspirin, vitamins C and E can also help lower c-reactive protein.