OT- Cholesterol and Triglycerides

[Brock Landers]

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Just wanted to see if anyone had some feedback on the numbers I got from my doctor in a routine blood test. My total Cholesterol is 220, but my "bad Cholesterol" or Triglycerides came out to 414, that apparently way over the limit and I need to have some diet/exercise changes in my life. <o></o>
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Anyone familiar with these numbers and can recommend anything that’s worked?<o></o>

 

[Journeyman]

Those are pretty bad numbers...can you describe your eating and diet habits for starters?

 

[quantumleap]

Hey guys,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
Just wanted to see if anyone had some feedback on the numbers I got from my doctor in a routine blood test. My total Cholesterol is 220, but my "bad Cholesterol" or Triglycerides came out to 414, that apparently way over the limit and I need to have some diet/exercise changes in my life. <o></o>
<o></o>
Anyone familiar with these numbers and can recommend anything that’s worked?<o></o>

Excellent question. I've wondered this myself so I decided to do some digging. By the way, triglycerides are different than bad cholesterol.

Here is what the American Heart Association says.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4500

Cholesterol Levels

AHA Recommendation
Cholesterol plays a major role in a person's heart health. High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. That's why it's important for all people to know their cholesterol level. They should also learn about their other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Total blood cholesterol is the most common measurement of blood cholesterol. It's the number you receive as test results. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).
Blood cholesterol for adults is classified by levels. Your healthcare provider must interpret your cholesterol numbers based on other risk factors such as age, gender, family history, race, smoking, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes.
The American Heart Association endorses the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for detection of high cholesterol. The Third Report of the Expert panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III or ATP III) was released in 2001. It recommends that everyone age 20 and older have a fasting "lipoprotein profile" every five years. This test is done after a 9-12-hour fast without food, liquids or pills. It gives information about total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats).
Researchers have established healthy ranges for each of these. They're given in the lists below. If a fasting lipoprotein profile isn't possible, the values for total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol are acceptable.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=content bgColor=#e8f9f4>Initial classification based on total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#e8f9f4><TD class=content vAlign=center noWrap width="40%">Total Cholesterol Level</TD><TD class=content vAlign=center width="60%">Category</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>Less than 200 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Desirable level that puts you at lower risk for coronary heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or higher raises your risk.
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#f7f7f7><TD class=content noWrap>200 to 239 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Borderline high</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>240 mg/dL and above
</TD><TD class=content>High blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of coronary heart disease as someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#e8f9f4><TD class=content noWrap width="40%">HDL Cholesterol Level
</TD><TD class=content>Category</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>Less than 40 mg/dL
(for men)
Less than 50 mg/dL
(for women)
</TD><TD class=content>Low HDL cholesterol. A major risk factor for heart disease.</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>60 mg/dL and above
</TD><TD class=content>High HDL cholesterol. An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
If your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more, or your HDL cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL, you need to have a lipoprotein profile done to determine your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If your cholesterol is high or you have other risk factors, your healthcare provider will likely want to monitor your cholesterol more closely. Follow your provider's advice about how often to have your cholesterol tested. He or she will set appropriate management goals based on your LDL cholesterol level and other risk factors.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#e8f9f4><TD class=content width="40%">LDL Cholesterol Level</TD><TD class=content width="60%">Category</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=content noWrap>Less than 100 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Optimal</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#f7f7f7><TD class=content noWrap>100 to 129 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Near or above optimal</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>130 to 159 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Borderline high</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#f7f7f7><TD class=content noWrap>160 to 189 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>High</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>190 mg/dL and above
</TD><TD class=content>Very high</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Your LDL cholesterol goal depends on how many other risk factors you have.

• If you don't have coronary heart disease or diabetes and have one or no risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 160 mg/dL.
• If you don't have coronary heart disease or diabetes and have two or more risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL.
• If you do have coronary heart disease or diabetes, your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL.

Triglyceride is the most common type of fat in the body. Many people who have heart disease or diabetes have high triglyceride levels. Normal triglyceride levels vary by age and sex. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol seems to speed up atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits in artery walls). Atherosclerosis increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#e8f9f4><TD class=content width="40%">Triglyceride Level</TD><TD class=content width="60%">Category</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=content noWrap>Less than 150 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Normal</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#f7f7f7><TD class=content noWrap>150-199 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>Borderline high</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=content noWrap>200-499 mg/dL
</TD><TD class=content>High</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#f7f7f7><TD class=content noWrap>500 mg/dL and above
</TD><TD class=content>Very high</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
On the whole, Americans should reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans-fat, cholesterol and total fat in their diet. If you have high blood cholesterol, it's very important to control high blood pressure, avoid tobacco smoke, eat a healthy diet, get regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, and control or delay the onset of diabetes. Taking these steps will help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. If you still need drugs to reduce your blood cholesterol, a healthy diet and active lifestyle will help lower your cholesterol and improve your overall cardiovascular health.
Cholesterol News

Related AHA Scientific Statements
Cholesterol

Related AHA publications:

• Heart and Stroke Facts
• An Eating Plan for Healthy Americans
• Understanding and Controlling Cholesterol
• Targeting the Facts... heart disease, stroke and risks
• Easy Food Tips for Heart-Healthy Eating (also in Spanish)
• "What Do My Cholesterol Levels Mean?" and "How Can I Lower High Cholesterol?" in Answers By Heart kit (also in Spanish kit)
• "What Are High Blood Cholesterol and Triglycerides?" and "What Is Cholesterol-Lowering Medicine?" in Answers By Heart kit

 

[fathead]

Dropping some weight usually helps. Lipitor works great as well.

 

[passingthewind]

This will probably get moved to Health and Fitness. I got my levels checked a few months back and found the following:

Triglycerides (211)
Cholesterol total (174)
HDL (29)
LDL (103)

Strange thing is the HDL number has always been a low number in my family. Based on that can anyone recommend if the other numbers seem to high or average. I would think the total Cholesterol of 174 is not bad but why is the tryglycerides so high?

 

[quantumleap]

This will probably get moved to Health and Fitness. I got my levels checked a few months back and found the following:

Triglycerides (211)
Cholesterol total (174)
HDL (29)
LDL (103)

Strange thing is the HDL number has always been a low number in my family. Based on that can anyone recommend if the other numbers seem to high or average. I would think the total Cholesterol of 174 is not bad but why is the tryglycerides so high?

ptw:

Your numbers look a lot like mine. I've been told that HDL is like a roto-rooter, it clears out the bad LDL cholesterol. If you have low LDL cholesterol you don't need as much HDL cholesterol since you don't need to have as much LDL scraped out so perhaps your HDL is OK.

My doctor told me to exercise more and eat less fatty foods like fast food in order to get my numbers more in line.

 

[Brock Landers]

Those are pretty bad numbers...can you describe your eating and diet habits for starters?

well i eat lots of chicken, but i also have about 3 or 4 cans of pop a day, like a mountain dew in the morning, and 2 or 3 cokes the rest of the day including lunch and dinner, i am starting by switching to Water and dropping the pop, i am thinking i will lose major punds right there and solve most of my issues. I don;t eat a lot of crap, fries from restasurants are probably the worst, i do like Prime Rib, so that may be an issue, but not a lot of fried stuff.

 

[Brock Landers]

My doctor told me to exercise more and eat less fatty foods like fast food in order to get my numbers more in line.

Sounds like what i heard today too..

One thing i want to do, since giving up pop all together will suck, and probably cause headaches missing caffeine, i need to check out caffeinated Water, like Water Joe, anyone try this stuff?

 

[levistep]

ptw:

Your numbers look a lot like mine. I've been told that HDL is like a roto-rooter, it clears out the bad LDL cholesterol. If you have low LDL cholesterol you don't need as much HDL cholesterol since you don't need to have as much LDL scraped out so perhaps your HDL is OK

The HDL picks up the cholestrol that the LDL drops off. It does act like the roto-rooter.

Dropping some weight usually helps. Lipitor works great as well.

I wouldn't take any drugs unless you are borderline dying.

 

[DonMelchor]

Well you could start by changing the way you eat, AND one of the most important things it's to start doing exercise, aerobic, at least 3 times a week, I had a thread in the health and fitness room

 

[levistep]

Well you could start by changing the way you eat, AND one of the most important things it's to start doing exercise, aerobic, at least 3 times a week, I had a thread in the health and fitness section

Anerobic exercise is important too.

 

[DonMelchor]

http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=395045

that's my thread FWIW

 

[DonMelchor]

Anerobic exercise is important too.

SURE.....

but for what I've heard, right now aerobic should be on top of the list:toast:

 

[VaultedTreehouse]

I eat pretty healthy but don't cut out meat at all. Still got a total of 160 which was the same as it was 8 years ago. So I must be doing something right....I hope b/c my father had a triple bypass at 54.

 

[Dante]

I just went and my overall cholestrol is 156 and the my tri's at 95 not to scare you but WOW 414! hopefully they will put you on some meds...and increase your exercise ALOT that will do it .....do not just rely on meds

 

[MDogg]

as opposed to HDL and LDL, triglycerides can be falsely elevated if you ate prior to your test... just a thought

 

[DonMelchor]

sure thing, I've you had a few beers the night before the test, or you ate something heavy...

 

[GreenDoberman]

Good luck Brock and hope you get this taken care of and under control.

 

[Brock Landers]

Reposting the same info i put in a seperate thread today

Got my results back after being on the pills for 2 months..

Total Cholesterol is 157, was 244
LDL (bad Cholesterol) is 61, was 137! That’s more than cut in half
Triglycerides are 336, were 386 and this is the only area I need improvement in, normal is 150.

The doctor was very pleased and wants me to continue on the lipitor for 3 more months and re-check my numbers at the end of July.

Good stuff!

 

[DonMelchor]

good to hear that, it's about time I take another visit to my doctor as well.......