Why does my body hate me? - High Cholesterol Message Board

Pivly · 09-06-2006, 07:12 AM

34 years old, 5'11", 170 lbs, exercise daily, in shape, make all my own food, eat healthy (whole grains, vegatables/fruits, lean protein, fish, etc). Don't drink alcohol, no caffeine, practically no sugar (no soda), don't smoke. I have always lived this way. I never get sick.

Total 294
Tri 140
HDL 34
LDL 231

What?! That's totally insane.

In the last few years I started having major problems with anxiety (GAD type stuff) so I have been to the doctor more often and that is why I'm just now seeing these test results. I'm not sure what my cholesterol was before I started having anxiety problems.

I haven't seen the doc yet to discuss this but I'm assuming drugs are in my future. I hate drugs. I rarely even take an anspirin and I'm extremely sensitive to everything. The thought of putting those nasty muscle destroying, mind numbing medications in me really bothers me. I'm into building muscle not destroying it and I'm a computer programmer so my mind is my most important asset.

I'm just discouraged.

cook82 · 09-06-2006, 10:26 AM

I have suffered from GAD all my life and can tell you when the condition is active my cholesterol numbers go off the hook!

In order to get your numbers under control, it is imperative that you get that condition under control first.

There is research out there that indicates that there is a correlation between high cholesterol and anxiety disorders. Check the internet - you will find some interesting research articles.

Your TC/HDL is 8.6 which is quite high. If getting the GAD under control does not result in a significant improvement, I would not let this go too long especially if there is a history of heart disease in your family.

You might benefit from taking niacin as it will raise your HDL 34 which is really too low.

Just a thought. Good luck.

Were these numbers taken fasting??????

Pivly · 09-06-2006, 12:07 PM

Yes, fasting for 12 hours. There is a history of heart problems in my family. Mother has had at least one heart attack. Generally they are overweight and diabetic though which thankfully I am neither. Depression runs on that side of the family too.

Thanks for the information. I did see some mention of anxiety/stress causing higher cholesterol numbers but I wasn't sure how much of an effect that can have. Something about fight or flight and pumping out the cholesterol to keep things going. I'll have to do some research (although I don't like doing that because it increases my anxiety

).

Part of the problem with the anxiety is that it gets worse when I have to see the doctor. Often my tests are skewed because of the emense stress. I have had blood pressure over 170/95 at the start of a visit and 130/75 at the end. I'm not sure if it's ever going to be possible to test my cholesterol when I am in a calm state.

I should probably look at the anxiety forum. Have you done anything that helps your anxiety? I have tried antidepressants but they had very bad and often opposite effects of what they were suppose to. I'm currently on a light Depakote dose which helps but not as much as I would like.

Lenin · 09-08-2006, 08:15 AM

Pivly,

Your heart attack risk is very high with a HORRIBLE TC/HDL ratio and a mother who suffered an early heart attack and a family with a lot of diabetes.

Your alternative might be between drugs, no matter HOW much you hate them, or an early death.
You can try an almost fat-free diet with ZERO animal fats...pick up one of Dean Ornish's books on treating heart disease without drugs. It's a tough diet, but it often works to get cholesterol numbers into line.

Why not have a stress test if your insurance company will pay for it? (Sometimes they want you to be >50 or have frank symptoms.)

No, anxiety won't mess up your cholesterol readings like they will BP readings.

Pivly · 09-09-2006, 09:46 AM

Yep, doctor suggested I start on Zetia. Also doesn't believe anxiety can increase cholesterol. I still think it does. Cholesterol is important for a number of body processes closely related to the stress system and anxiety could easily over-stimulate these. If you have ever had a panic attack you know exactly the physical mechanisms that get activated and how strong it is. When a doctor has never even considered the possibility of a connection because of the studies that have been done then I have to take their advice with a grain of salt. They can't know everything about everything. I work in a complex field myself so I know even the experts are sometimes very wrong. Personally I'm open to both explainations including that high cholesterol may cause anxiety instead of the other way around.

I'm not sure if a stress test would tell me much. Although there could be a problem, I'm still pretty young and in shape. I have had an EKG done once when I had an episode and went to the emergency room (it was normal). Although I don't think it could hurt, you are right in that my insurance isn't going to pay for it at my young age. I think even if there is a problem it would be minor and is something I can turn around with the things I'm going to have to do anyway to lower my cholesterol.

I truly believe that if I was somehow able to remove the anxiety that my cholesterol would drop dramatically. If you look at my family history there is a common thread: Anxiety, depression, heart disease. I think it's all interrelated and I'm willing to bet that the heart disease is caused by the mental problems.

I know I need to lower my cholesterol because of my risks. I'm going to do whatever it takes, including drugs if needed but there are so many factors at play here and there is a possibility that drugs may fix a problem in one place while creating more in others. I'm torn on taking the Zetia. I might try an all natural approach and see what happens. I mean the Zetia mostly only works on what you eat anyway, that isn't going to fix a hereditary problem where my body is pumping out too much cholesterol. This anxiety is not going away though so I'm not sure what I can possibly do there but I still believe that combined with diet that is the key.