I just got my cholesterol results. Am I going to die?

[Mojambo]

I should preface this thread by saying I'm not looking for any professional medical advice.

That being said, I think I'm on a bullet train to heart disease.

Tch 246 mg/dl (Total Serum)
HDL 40 mg/dl (High Density)
LDL 182.4 mg/dl (Low Density)
VLDL 23.6 mg/dl (Very Low Density)
Tg 118 mg/dl (Triglycerides)

I'm a 31 year old non-smoker (except for pot.)

What are your numbers???

[slackmaster]

1. Of course you are going to die eventually

What did your doctor have to say about those numbers? They look similar to what mine were before I started taking Lipitor.

[Mojambo]

4. I don't have a doctor or health insurance

I got these results from a research lab where I sold my blood a while back.

The only two that seem out of line are the Total Serum (where they say over 240 is high risk) and Low Density (where they say values above 160 are high risk)

[sir_captain]

9. Your ratio

between HDL and LDL is actually the most worrisome part. One shoots for a ratio of 1:2

[ohiosmith]

2. Yes. You will die.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. ok, except for Triglycerides

My doctor said they've recently changed the numbers for what's healthy/unhealty for them, and now I'm in the stlightly unhealthy range.

What she suggested for me was a diet based on my blood workup and family health history. I know that by following the guidelines she gave me, I've stayed pretty healthy (going on 3 or 4 years doing this). If I would wind up with unhealthy cholesterol, I know my doctor would first try herbs, diet, vitamins/minerals, and only use prescriptions as a last resort, because she practices integrative medicine. I suggest that you find a doctor like this in your area (Holistic Medical Association has a website, I think, which should list them).

[steely]

5. some numbers....

total 225
hdl 43
ldl 157
tg 123

4 test in 3 yrs - dropped 10% from exercise and oatmeal, but didn't bounce up too fast when I got lax. now taking zocor, I think it's better, but I don't have latest (w/in 3 months) results.

[megatherium]

6. Ten years ago, I thought I was perfectly healthy.

I had low cholesterol numbers last time I had them tested, a few years earlier; the total was 161. But then I had another test and it was at 223. Whoops. I realized that back then I had been doing a lot of running, but I had switched to weight training, and I realized my diet wasn't what it could be. I was eating McDonalds once or twice a week.

So I started to do a lot of walking, and worked on my diet. This did the trick. My cholesterol went down to 190. Now, I hope the number is still favorable. I have been running consistently for a couple of years, so I think it's probably all right. Maybe I should get another test.

[LynneSin]

7. You won't die but you should modify your diet and add more fiber

My Cholesterol is 202 which 200 is the point between ok and not ok.

First, even if you live the healthiest of lifestyles you still may have high cholesterol - it can be hereditary. But there are things you can try before going on medication.

First, even without the insurance, commit yourself to getting tested again in 3 months. Cholesterol testing is inexpensive to do and I've seen free Cholesterol testing at malls and clinics.

Second - you need to focus on fiber and your diet. I've been working with a nutrition on my weight and the advice she gave me was this:

- cut back on red meat if you're still eating it
- Oatbran. Something about it is really good for the heart. Eat Oat cereals for breakfast and use oatbased breads.
- Soy is also good for lowering cholesterol. Switch from regular milk to soy milk and also try one of the may soy based spreads out there.

and finally and I do this every single night - drink a glass of metamusal. I use the sugar-free orange flavored stuff and it's not so bad to drink. Insoluble fiber will help drag out the bad cholesterol from your system.

However if in 3 months you're still around those numbers you may be looking into needing cholesterol medicine. The good thing is there are so many varieties of Cholesterol reducing medicines that you can probably get a good generic for a cheap price.

You're not going to wake up dead tomorrow because of those numbers but if left neglected it will affect your health.

Good Luck

[Mojambo]

8. Thanks for the advice

This research outfit usually calls me when they're doing a draw.

I think it's every few months. I've done it twice so far and my numbers were pretty much identical. I think the LDL was the one that was noticably higher this time.

Taking a fiber supplement is a good idea, it would probably help with my digestive issues too.

[sir_captain]

10. Just so you know

oatbran is only demonstrated to have a cholesterol lowering effect in *extremely* low-fat diets (basically none)

so it's good for a lot of other reasons, and eating it is usually part of a better, healthier, lower-cholesterol diet, but fiber itself isn't actually going to lower cholesterol for a person eating a fairly normal diet. And certainly not as much as a statin.

[sir_captain]

11. If these numbers were very abnormal for you

also could have had something to do with what you ate. Did you fast before you had the blood drawn? Or did you eat a whole bunch of hollandaise sauce? These things can make a big difference...

[gizmo1979]

12. my tch was in the 240's also

just take crestor and don't have lard popsicles and you'll be fine.

[MrSandman]

13. Total 147...

Don't know my ratio, Doc said the "good" cholestrol was low.

[seemunkee]

14. Is there history of heart disease in your family?

In my opinion I wouldn't worry about it. If you are a non-smoker, moderate drinker, active, non-diabetic then cholesteral is not going to be a big factor in heart disease. I have high cholesteral but I refuse to take any statins. My doc understands and has tested me for other indicators and I'm low risk so screw it. The low cholesterol numbers that are being put out are for people who have heart disease or are already at high risk for it.

[BikeWriter]

15. Eat more fish.

[Jamastiene]

16. I am not sure what my numbers are, but

my mother says high cholesterol is what has caused my gall bladder to get stones and be in such pain right now. I hate eating healthy with such a passion. I had always thought that meat and veggies were good for you, but I guess my preoccupation with dowsing them with every tasty sauce, dip, and spice makes them unhealthy by the time I get through. Damn. You'd think someone would come up with a healthy fatty, fried food recipe or two. Apparently, it's not possible.

[kodi]

17. send me $10 and i will pray for you. then you will be healed.

i will also throw in a tee shirt for free.

[Sanity Claws]

18. There are things you can do

Exercise is great at lowering it.
Also, dietary changes work. However, do some research on alternative non-traditional medical approaches. do a GOOGLE search

[Redstone]

19. I have absolutely no idea what my cholesterol numbers are.

I try like hell to stay away from doctors, because every time I go to one, it seems, they want to cut me. And I've been cut enough.

Don't know what my blood pressure is either, or my weight. Mrs R. has a scale, but I've never used it.

The less I know, the less it can hurt me, I figure.

Redstone