A Cholesterol Question - High Cholesterol Message Board

AngelaNRichard · 10-09-2003, 08:46 PM

My name is Angela, 24 years old.

I had my last FASTING cholesterol check up in November of 2001 and here is my reading-

Total: 222
HDL: 80
LDL: 136
Triglyerides: 32

****am scared because I am getting another FASTING blood check up on Tuesday. I donate blood every 56 days and they give you a free NON FASTING cholesterol check and here are the 2 two visit readings-

June 03': 226
August 03': 237

I know the NON FASTING are not as accurate but it makes me think my cholesterol is even HIGHER

I eat VERY healthy on the weekdays (shredded wheat, boneless skinless chicken, apples, prunes, whole wheat bread, black eyed peas, northern beans, green beans, mixed veggies.... not all in one day but spread out through the week). I do NOT eat any red meat on the weekdays. I am VERY BAD on the weekends

As I eat red meat, french fries, ice cream

I just hate to deprieve myself all week, ya know?

I do exercise, as I get 45 mins of cardio, 5 days a week. I am very active and my weight is 130lbs at 5 foot 7 inches. My blood pressure is normal and I do not have any other health issues.

So, can someone tell me what I should do? I am really scared about getting my cholesterol checked next week

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Angela(24) and Richard(30)

ARIZONA73 · 10-10-2003, 08:05 AM

Angela,

Actually, your numbers are incredibly GOOD. Forget about the total cholesterol number. Ratios are of far greater significance. And your ratios are fantastic. Your good cholesterol(HDL)is excellent, and your triglycerides are incredibly low, which is great. So, to give you an idea of where you stand, please consider this:

The total cholesterol/HDL ratio should be 4.0 or less. Yours is 2.78. That's very good.

The LDL/HDL ratio should be under 2.5. Yours is well below that, at 1.7.

Ideally, your triglyceride/HDL ratio should be 1.0. A ratio of 2.0 is considered borderline normal. But your ratio is extremely good! It is just 0.4!

So please stop worrying. You are very fortunate to have such favorable ratios. And please stop worrying about that total number. That number is considered significant only if your ratios are poor.

AngelaNRichard · 10-10-2003, 08:32 AM

Thank you for your reply BUT that reading was taken in Nov of 2001 and did you see the TOTAL (NON FASTING) of the recent ones? That makes me scared

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Angela(24) and Richard(30)

ARIZONA73 · 10-10-2003, 09:03 AM

The change in TC is really not all that significant, nor is it surprising. Cholesterol values often fluctuate, both upwards and downwards. What did your most recent blood test reveal in terms of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides? These are the key missing pieces. Without them, a total cholesterol number means very little.

starling72 · 10-10-2003, 09:53 AM

Arizona,

If what you say is true about the ratios, then I'm hurtin'! My last readings (September, 2003) were 177 total, 27 HDL, 88 LDL, and 314 Tri's. That puts me at:

Chol/HDL - 6.6 (<4.0 is normal)
LDL/HDL - 3.3 (<2.5 is normal)
Tri/HDL - 11.6 (<1.0 preferred, <2.0 acceptable)

OUCH! Hopefully, my recent diet changes and exercise will improve those numbers over time. Plus, my Tri's were likely skewed by eating high amts of carbs just before my 12-hr fast began. =P

Amazingly, upon further calculation, simply raising my HDL's to 45 would put me in the normal ranges for the first two ratios and simultaneously lowering my Tri's to under 100 would put me close the the last one. Do-able, I would think?