Well, you obviously need to modify your diet. Lower your salt intake and alcohol levels for a start. Then get on a healthy diet regimen. I'd toss in some cardio (jogging, zumba, spinning) as well. Did your doctor put you on meds?
Definitely, examine your diet. Your weight is fine for your height, especially if you are muscular, but high triglicerides are often the result of eating a lot of sugar.
I'd make an appointment with a registered dietician and overhaul your eating.
My doctor did put me on a 3 month supply of gemfibrozil. Then retest and see if all is well. I don't drink at all, non-smoker, and no illegal drug use or any drugs for that matter. He did ask me if I used anything for lifting weights and I mentioned creatine but he didn't think that would be a problem. Unless it is....???
I'm a pretty health conscious person and the food i eat is relatively healthy. At least I hope so. I'm either in denial or have a poor judge of choices... ??
Hi, my tg is in range 320 to 450 from last 30 years. Hdl 32;ldl 132;cho 200 . Yes i am sweet fruit eater.if i cut down on sweet and fat it comes down to 300 (tg) . Your dr has not followed right treatment, first life style changes, then statin,then gemfibrozil. Gem has side effects much more than statins. I doubt your dr is also making mistake in bp. Read on net about tg bp and gemfibrozil.
Hi, my tg is in range 320 to 450 from last 30 years. Hdl 32;ldl 132;cho 200 . Yes i am sweet fruit eater.if i cut down on sweet and fat it comes down to 300 (tg) . Your dr has not followed right treatment, first life style changes, then statin,then gemfibrozil. Gem has side effects much more than statins. I doubt your dr is also making mistake in bp. Read on net about tg bp and gemfibrozil.
I have no idea what point you're trying to make.....?
He recommend dietary changes in addition to the medication.
I'm 24 not 50...... quite frankly my doctor looked pretty surprised at the results, based on my body type and age. I was just as surprised, make no mistake about that.
I just pulled up my last physical from when I was 20 and my triglyceride levels were only 106.
The only thing I could cut out right now is the fast food. I do eat out 2-3 times a week. On days where I do go fast I don't eat much else for the rest of the day. It's got more than enough sodium for my daily needs and exceedingly amount of calories.
Bass's point is that it's always best to avoid drugs because of side effects. Gemfibrozil causes gastrointestinal reactions (pain, discomfort) in up to 34% of patients taking it.
Dr's ask their patients to change their diet but then 1. don't really help them do so, 2. write a prescription anyway.
The drug should indeed lower your CH and TRIG. But that doesn't mean you can then eat poor and expect to be in optimal health.
Seems you have motivation to be fit and healthy. You take time to exercise and maintain healthy weight. This leaves one thing left that could be the cause- diet. You think you are eating healthy, but then you say you do eat fast food 2-3 times a week.
Well I suspect your diet is not as healthy as it could be. Even a vegetarian can eat a very poor diet (like mostly just fruit or a few veggies), or white rice, and health gets worse, not better.
A healthy diet should return metabolic vitals to healthy and optimal ranges in most people. Only in a very few people diet doesn't work.
Here's what I'd do if I were you. I'd research what is the most healthy diet. Then I'd use that motivation you have and focus it on your new super-healthy diet for at least 3 months. I'm talking become an expert and then eating a SUPER healthy diet-
dark green veggies like spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, etc
beans
daily omega 3's from walnuts or wild salmon, flaxseed or fish caps
berries (these are super anti-oxidants)
fruits
nuts and seeds (get sprouted for even more nutrition)
avoid white foods- white rice, white potatoes, white bread, etc
reduce salt and oils
lean meats only, and limit to 1-2 times a week
no fried foods
limit dairy and sweets to 1-2 times a week
Are you eating like the above daily? If not, then from what I've learned your diet is not as healthy as it could be. I was eating 'healthy' I thought last year, because I had veggies with my large meat portions. But ate pasta, beef, burgers, pizza, fried too several times a week. Sure I had some veggies but it wasn't a SUPER healthy diet.
My total cholesterol wasn't bad- it was 167. But my HDL was low at 28. I wasn't satisfied with my results. I had learned that studies like the Frammington study, and the China study, found that when cholesterol is 150 or less, there are basically no heart attacks. And that means no heart disease.
I then found out how to eat much healthier and made it a mission to get lower my BP, and lower my CH even more and raise my HDL. I changed my diet to above. Very little fatty meats or fried foods and daily omega 3's from either salmon or high quality fish oil. It worked for me! After 3 months my total CH went from 167 to 154! That's basically the no heart attack zone! And my HDL went up to 46! Healthy range! I lost weight and hit my healthy weight zone. My BP came down.
I did it in THREE MONTHS with NO cholesterol drugs whatsoever. I learned on my own how to do it. I first learned from Dr Furhman and his Eat to Live book and diet plan (which isn't a diet but how to eat nutrient dense foods), when he was on PBS.
All I'm saying is a super healthy diet like I did might work for you too, I don't know, but the only way to know is to do it for 3 months and find out. If levels come down to normal, you can then possibly reduce or even quit taking CH meds.
Last edited by easygoingguy; 05-18-2012 at 10:57 PM.
Hi hcalz, easy has explained most of things I wanted to say. Further read on net how to measure bp. Its different in both hands. In some people it is fluctuating so measure three times at the dutation of 5 min and average it. Your bp is more worrisome than tg. I dont have ref handy but read some where that when tg >500 then gem otherwise statin. Tg and bp is not one time affair they up down daily according to what we eat, do, stress level. Your tg not genetic cause last it was 106, thats good, mine is genetic. Hope you will be able to control with diet and gem will be stoped by the dr.
... I was 20 when I got my very first physical, did some blood work and passed with flying colors.
I'm 24 now, ran through another physical and did the same blood work and it would appear that I'm in the worst shape of my life.
You might consider getting a second opinion at a different doctor.
Many doctors and dentists are being squeezed financially because of low reimbursement fees and fewer patients. If a doctor can get someone young and healthy on a prescription drug, then it boosts their income for a long time to come.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hcalz
My blood pressure is hovering around 150 over 95.
My triglycerides are through the roof at 460 mg/dl.
While it is possible that your blood pressure and cholesterol are at unhealthy levels, it just surprises me that someone at your age, and in your great physical shape would have such unhealthy levels of blood pressure and cholesterol, even if your diet is less healthy than it should be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hcalz
On days where I do go fast I don't eat much else for the rest of the day.
Your metabolism is only as healthy as the fuel (food) that you put into it. If you put bad gas in a car, it doesn't work as well. If you select lower quality fuel (food) for your body, your metabolism suffers. The healthier and more balanced the food you eat, the healthier and more balanced your metabolism and yourself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hcalz
... it would appear that I'm in the worst shape of my life.
Do you feel like you are in the worst shape of your life? Sluggish and tired quite a bit? Lack energy? Mental confusion, dizzyness, lightheadedness? Memory problems?
Personally, I don't trust most doctors and dentists, so I always treat their diagnosis, evaluation and input with suspicion.
Anyway..
