Opinions please!! - High Cholesterol Message Board

Barbara_Ann · 04-20-2009, 02:45 PM

Hi;

I'm 62, in very good physical health according to my complete physical last week. I feel GREAT!

I'm 5' 7" tall - BMI and weight are right on target (low side) for my height and large bone structure. I get moderate exercise weekly and just came off a 40 day fast of ANY kind of meat for lent. I use ONLY olive oil for seasoning and cooking but do not consume near enough fruits as they recommend (very very bad area for me). I take 2 1,200 mg gel caps fish oil per day without fail.

My new numbers are:

Cholesterol, Total - 239 (0 - 100)

Triglycerides - 89 (0 - 149)

HDL - 60 ( 39 - > )

VLDV - 1% ( 5 - 40)

LDL - 161 (0 - 99 )

My doctor put me on Zocor but, I really hate to take a statin drug if I don't really need to.

I'd like to know if my LDL number seems dangerously high to anyone that is up on this stuff.

Thanks to anyone that responds.

rudiraven · 04-20-2009, 03:13 PM

No, your levels are fine. Your HDL is excellent! If you want to cut down on your LDL watch your carbs and alcohol intake. Too much fruit will raise your LDL because of the carbs. Watch the fruits you choose. This is exactly what I was alluding to in my last post. Doctors don't even know why they are prescribing statins. I guess it's because your total number is over 200! If you subtracted your excellent HDL number (60) from your total cholesterol, 239-60=179. Just keep doing what you're doing. Of course, that's just my opinion and there may be others that disagree

Take care of yourself.

yackedar · 04-25-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudiraven

If you subtracted your excellent HDL number (60) from your total cholesterol, 239-60=179. Just keep doing what you're doing. Of course, that's just my opinion and there may be others that disagree

Take care of yourself.

Hi rudiraven,

Sorry, I fail to see how HDL deducted from TC produces any known medical formula in respect of cholesterol figures.

Barbara Ann,

Yes, unfortunately, your TC and especially your LDL are on the high side.
Although your TC/HDL ratio of 3.98 and your LDL/HDL of 2.68 places you in the average risk section (if you have no other cardiac risks.), at 62 where cholesterol levels have already risen anyway, you should look at getting the both sets of ratios lower, to place you in the low risk category.

By placing you on Zocor your doctor is aiming to lower the LDL (to reduce your LDL/HDL ratio), and is also looking ahead to your future years where Zocor can halt/reduce cholesterol plaque of the arteries. High levels of LDL can in some doctors opinions be a good sign of inflammation of the arteries being present. This can be proven with a C-reactive protein blood test.