Opinion on these readings - High Cholesterol Message Board

woodsman · 05-20-2005, 07:52 PM

This is my first post on these boards, been lurking though. For the last couple of yrs my readings have been pretty much the same, high.
Jan. of this year they were as follows
TC-257
HDL-53
LDL-191
TRI-77
After putting it off for years, the doc convinced me to take Lipitor, so I said I will take a very little amount, so he put me on 5mg per day. I did this plus I took 4 tablespoons ground flax seed with my oatmeal or cold cereal 6 days per wk, and also lecethin, garlic capsules, flax seed oil, and a multi vitamin (Centrum Silver) I am 62 yrs old. I took another test the 17th of this month, and here are the results.
TC-190
HDL-51
LDL-130
TRI-52
Doc wanted to put me on 10mg of Lipitor because of the ldl reading of 130, but I told him that I will not do this. In my opinion, these readings to me are just not that bad, I am very satisfied with the results. I know the ldl is 130, but that sure is a lot better than 191, or 208 like it was in 2002.
I am just curious if some of you experts agree with me, or if I am barking up the wrong tree. Also, what's your opinion on the low triglicerides at 52, this seems lower than I've normally seen. Another thing, I'm guilty of not exercising, I am walking and on the go a lot, but no routine exercise for about the last 10 yrs. In all honesty, I pretty much ate what I wanted, but I don't think I was abusive on the fats. Thanks for any input.

ARIZONA73 · 05-20-2005, 08:56 PM

Woodsman,

Welcome to the board. I completely agree with you. Your numbers are fine. Just tell the doc "no dice" to the 10mg. I swear, sometimes I think these doctors are crazy!

JJ · 05-20-2005, 09:20 PM

Woodsman..If U got those good results from 5 mgs. and all the other stuff U have been taking, I also see NO reason for your dr. to up the dose. Keep doing what U have been doing, and congrats. on such a nice reduction in your numbers.......

Lenin · 05-21-2005, 05:19 AM

woodsman,

I'd say it's a toss-up. If you have no risk-factors, stay with the 5mg. With any two factors like hypertension, either parent having heart disease before 60 (or both parents getting it EVER), diabetes, smoking, etc., then taking it below 130 is a good idea...unfortunately age 62 is ALREADY ONE risk factor..

<for real!

>
Of course, with any angina or proven heart disease, then under 100 is the better LDL.

Triglycerides are superb. But unless I miss my guess, since LDL is calculated using triglycerides in the formula the lower triglycerides cause the LDL to be underestimated...someone can correct me if I'm wrong here but I THINK I have it right.
Thus your REAL LDL might be somewhat higher than reported.

If age 62 is your only risk factor than your numbers are fine!

HubbleRules · 05-21-2005, 05:57 AM

Woodsman,

Your numbers on 5mg of Lipitor are fine. I would not take the 10mg dose - the extra benefit is marginal, and why risk the side effects?

Do some independent study on the true relationship between cholesterol levels and heart disease, because it is not nearly as strong a relationship as you may think. I'm afraid that many are allowing their doctors to blindly subscribe high levels of statins, and are actually pushing their cholesterol levels down to dangerously low levels. Cholesterol is a vital substance in the body - pushing it too low has risks.

Ten years ago your current numbers would have been well within guidelines. Nine out of the ten members on the panel that set the cholesterol guidelines have financial ties to the pharmaceutical companies that produce cholesterol meds - how impartial could their votes have been?

I wouldn't worry about my numbers if I were you... I'd worry about the LDL/HDL ratio, and about reducing inflammation - which could be a much greater predictor of CHD than cholesterol.

I'd take CoQ10, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Folic Acid, Ester-E, Vitamin-C and L-Lysine, and try to go to no higher than 5mg Lipitor. Many are suspecting that the real benefit of statins is in their anti-inflammatory properties - and that this benefit could be achieved with a much lower dose.

HubbleRules