My numbers - High Cholesterol Message Board

BostonGirl44 · 07-31-2008, 04:46 PM

Got these from the bloodwork that I had done last week:

Total Cholesterol 208
Triglycerides 63
HDL 60
LDL 136

What can I do to get my cholesterol down?

Connie122516 · 07-31-2008, 09:02 PM

How old are you? What is your family history of heart disease? Are you overweight? Do you smoke? Do you have high blood pressure? Do you have, or are you at risk for, diabetes?

Depending upon the answers to those questions and similar questions re: heart disease risk factors, you may not need to get your cholesterol down. Your HDL and triglycerides are perfect, and your LDL is pretty much normal; only slightly above where the highly restrictive current US guidelines suggest it should be (unless you have heart disease or are at high risk of heart disease).

Your total doesn't mean much because of your high HDL, which is protective, and therefore "good."

BostonGirl44 · 08-02-2008, 01:35 PM

Thanks for your reply. I'm 29, no family history of heart disease, not overweight, don't smoke, no high blood pressure. I guess based on that I should be fine. My doctor had recommended trying a low fat diet and exercising more, which I could do since I love junk food and hate exercising.