I'm only 20 with 267!! what do i do?? - High Cholesterol Message Board

katkarimi · 08-12-2002, 09:08 PM

hello everyone... i'm new at this. i got my cholesterol checked for the first time a couple of weeks ago and my results came back as 267. i'm only 20 years old. i don't know how this could be considering i exercise regularly and eat sensibely. i was told that my "good" cholesterol was high but i'm not sure what that means. what can i do to actively bring my cholesterol down? any specific foods i should eat/avoid? i would really appreciate some feedback... i'm sort of at a loss. thanks.

ARIZONA73 · 08-13-2002, 11:17 AM

Katkarimi:

You said that your HDL was high. I wish I knew just how high, since that is important in determining your TC/HDL ratio, and therefore your overall risk factor. Ideally, it should be less than 4.0. Depending on what your HDL is, it is entirely possible that you may not have to worry all that much about your total cholesterol reading. For example, assuming that you have a total cholesterol level of 267 and your HDL is 70, your ratio would be 3.8, which isn't bad. Now, let's say someone else you know is jumping with joy over that fact that their total cholesterol is only 175, but it turns out their HDL is only 35. Their ratio would be 5.0, actually placing them at higher risk. You made no mention of what your triglycerides level is, so I am assuming that is okay. Also, I don't know what your eating habits are like or whether you are currently taking any nutritional supplements. Based on the limited amount of information that you have provided, I cannot comment or make any further suggestion at this time. Also, try to keep in mind the fact that many people often experience high fluctuations in total cholesterol readings. I for one, have gotten readings anywhere from 196 to as high as 250 without ever doing anything differently. So, I wouldn't be so quick to panick over this one single reading. In the meantime, it would help if you revealed your actual HDL value, what your current diet consists of, any whether or not you are taking any nutritional supplements.

phja · 08-13-2002, 03:14 PM

arizona ....i thought the same as you about the cholesterol ratio, but when i went to the internist last month he said they rely more on ldl.my ratio is 4.3, but my ldl is 176.anyone here of this?

ARIZONA73 · 08-13-2002, 04:30 PM

Phja:

Yes, you are correct in that LDL is considered a factor in the overall lipid profile. However, even on my most recent Clinical Laboratory Report from this past January, the relative risk is still listed as being based on the TC/HDL ratio. So it must still be used as the marker for overall risk. LDL probably becomes more of a concern if your HDL is not falling into the higher range.

katkarimi · 08-15-2002, 11:35 PM

thanks for replying back to me... my HDL was 76 so i guess my ratio is about 3.5 which isn't bad, right? as far as my diet goes, i try to eat at least one salad a day, usually lunch. breakfasts are small, usually a bowl of oatmeal or cereal, or just fruit. and dinners tend to contain some sort of protein, usually chicken or tofu. i'm trying to incorporate more fish but i'm not really a great cook

i rarely eat fried food but i am a sucker for chocolate, yet i try to keep my chocolate intake to a minimum. also, i am currently taking iron suppliments because i am anemic. i hope that this gives you the information needed to make some useful suggestions. i appreciate your help.