Lab results - I'm confused!

[auburn62]

I posted earlier when I only had my HDL/TRIG numbers. I received the Total Chol. and LDL today.

Total Chol. 186
Trigs 259
LDL 104
HDL 30

I don't understand how my total cholesterol could be just 186 with the trigs and hdl so bad?

Also could someone tell me how to figure my ratio. I know it shold be under 4.5 for a female.

I am supposed to start on Lipitor 20 mg.

Thanks for any advise,
Auburn62

[ARIZONA73]

auburn62,

Yes, it's quite possible to have a total cholesterol level of 186, and still have a high triglyceride level. This is how the formula works:

TC= HDL + LDL + (Triglycerides/5)

The ratio you are referring to is your TC/HDL ratio. You simply divide your total cholesterol number by your HDL. So, your ratio would be 6.2.

I don't know what your particular situation is, but have you first tried changing your diet before going on the Lipitor? Do you typically eat a low fat diet? Quite often a low fat diet will result in elevated triglycerides and lower HDL levels in many people. On the other hand, a low carb diet quite often will have the opposite effect; triglycerides plummet and HDL rises.

[auburn62]

I haven't been on any type diet really. I am starting on a "not real strict" low carb and have changed from table sugar to sweet and low sweetner for my iced tea, which I drink on and off all day. Also have changed from white bread to either sourdough or stone ground wheat,
and trying not to eat potatoes, white rice, pasta. I bought the "South Beach Diet" book and am reading it now. I'm 62 years old and believe I have read somewhere that cholesterol rises as one ages?

I am surprised that my total cholesterol came down and my trigs from the Dec. 2002 readings.

My previous lab report for Dec. 2002, listed my:
Total Chol. 219
Trigs 319
HDL 37
LDL 118
Chol/hdlc ratio 5.9

I do smoke and I realize that it lowers the HDL. But, I think I'm fighting a losing battle with the trigs and hdl because it runs in my family. My mother takes Mevacor and her sister has to take double strenght Pravachol. And even with the Pravachol and watching her diet her trigs were 159 her last blood test.

Thanks for giving me the ratio. It's not as bad as I thought it might be considering.

Any other advise you can give me?

Thanks
Auburn62

[MichaelNYC]

Originally Posted by auburn62

I posted earlier when I only had my HDL/TRIG numbers. I received the Total Chol. and LDL today.

Total Chol. 186
Trigs 259
LDL 104
HDL 30

I don't understand how my total cholesterol could be just 186 with the trigs and hdl so bad?

Also could someone tell me how to figure my ratio. I know it shold be under 4.5 for a female.

I am supposed to start on Lipitor 20 mg.

Thanks for any advise,
Auburn62

Your cholesterol/hdl ratio is 6.2. All you have to do is increase your HDL from 30 to 42 and you would have your 4.5 ratio. Why not read some of the messages below and responses for recommendations. I'll give you one: 10mg Policosanol. Let medication be your final option. Hopefully others will respond with some recommendations.

[pcovers]

Originally Posted by MichaelNYC

I'll give you one: 10mg Policosanol. Let medication be your final option. Hopefully others will respond with some recommendations.

Have you had good results with Policosanol yourself? Several here have written that they read the research and tried it for themsleves (me inlcuded) but most have indicated no definitive results from it.