Help me with my high cholesterol, please

[kwormann]

I just had the second test in 9 months....good cholesterol is 63, which is good, but the bad and the lipids are very high for a total of 253. I am very scared...I exercise fairly regularly, eat red meat MAYBE 1x every 2 months (this includes pork), eat chicken maybe 3x a month, eat lots of beans and vegetables, have an egg yolk maybe 5-6x a month. I guess my downfall is cheese, but I cant imagine that causing this. AND, of course, my doctor is on vacation right now......Any thoughts about what I will need to do?

kim

[Jen]

I found out in the Fall I have borderline cholesterol levels. I was pretty surprised - I'm only in my mid-twenties, and I was quite overweight at the time (lost quite a bit since) but also a healthy eater. I only had the test because my Dad was diagnosed a few years ago, but never expected it to be high. I was so frustrated at first because I figured I was eating pretty healthy - quite similar to you, actually - not much beef and pork (and always the lean cuts), lots of skinless boneless chicken and veggie dishes. However, one thing I did realize was that I was eating a lot of shrimp - probably about once per week. I have mostly cut those out, even though it kills me. There are so many good recipes for shrimp! And they are SOOOO low in fat and calories! It's just the *&#$ cholesterol problem! Anyway, I don't know if this is an issue for you but I thought it might help. I have to go back soon for a re-test and I'm hoping the numbers will be lower!

Good luck,
Jen

[funnybone]

I have known some people with high cholesterol who have lost weight, dramatically altered their eating habits and exercise regime, and still had high cholesterol levels years later. The Dr. finally told them that it was obviously genetic for them. I think that in some cases it is genetic, and nothing can change that trait. However, the key is to control it so that is does not get higher and to be aware that it is in the danger zone.

[donleyk]

Kim,

I had a cholesterol test and my overall number was like 226 or so. I too was worried until the nurse told me that my good cholesterol number was so low that it negates the bad. Wait (about worrying!) until you talk with your doctor...

[MrsReber]

I had a cholesterol level of 225 about 10 years ago. The cardiologist told me not to worry about it too much (his was 225, too!!) He said that they do exaggerate the acceptable levels so that people are more aware of it. Anyway, since then, I lost about 35 pounds and changed my eating habits a bit, began to exercise and it went down to 160. My mother has very high cholesterol right now and nobody really knows what's causing it. Sometimes it does happen for no reason. I know that exercise helps alot. It could just be a hereditary condition. Don't panic too much and go see your doctor when he comes back from vacation.

[SusanD]

It's probably hereditary, does anyone in your family have high cholesterol? I inherited mine from my dad and I can't tell you how many times people look at me like I'm some kind of wierdo when I tell them that, at age 30 and 5'8"/130 pounds (well, not at the moment http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif), I have to watch my cholesterol. I found out a couple of years ago that I have borderline high cholesterol (222 at the time) - when I heard that I freaked out and cut ALL fat out of my diet. I managed to get it down to about 180, but also discovered that it wasn't much fun maintaining the diet. Now I watch what I eat...very little red meat, oatmeal for breakfast, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, low or nonfat everything, lots of fruits and veggies, etc...and it hovers around the 210-215 range. Fortunately my HDL ("good") cholesterol is also quite high, so that helps a little. I guess the best advice I can give is just do the best you can to keep in under control.

[kwormann]

Susan,

yes, my father was overweight and had high cholesterol and died suddenly at age 50----hince the reason I am freaking out so much. I seem to feel every heartbeat I have right now....I could cancel all pizza and never eat another piece of cheese, but that isnt life, either. I suppose I could do a little bit better, but I have been trying to lose 15 lbs in a healthy manner for 5 years, and I cant get it to come off. It if frustrating enough, but now this......

DH is trying to help me to relax about it until the dr comes back into town. Thanks for the words of encouragement!

kim

[SusanD]

No problem...I totally understand how you feel. Like I said, I freaked out when I found out about mine. I got on this obsessive "no fat whatsoever" campaign and drove my husband nuts (not to mention starved him to death). I've come to the realization that I can only do so much and then it's beyond my control. And I'm with you - life without cheese is just no fun! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Talk to your doc when he gets back - I'm sure he'll help you feel better about things.

[lorilei]

I've read more studies lately that say that "bad" cholesterol is being proven to be relatively unrelated to diet. They are also beginning to realize that high cholesterol does NOT necessarily mean "walking heart attack" as they once thought.

Rather than focusing on your LDL levels, why not try raising your HDL? For most people, they've found that a very high HDL many times cancels out a high LDL, by nature of the bodily processes that HDL cholesterol supports.

In addition, sometimes adding a b-complex supplement to your diet helps to control cholesterol -- my mother has gone this route and seems to be having a great deal of success.

[BevP]

Add me to the list of genetically high cholesterol, though how it breaks down is ok. However, my dad died at age 34 of his 3rd heart attack so when my doctor found out about that he sent me to the nutritionist. I'm sure each nutritionist will have his or her own preferences but I was told not to worry about cholesterol in food, worry about fat. He had me follow the Diabetic Association exchanges program. Stick to a low fat diet, eat more whole grains. Also, aerobic exercise is the best way to increase the "good" cholesterol. At least 30 minutes of aerobic activity 5 times a week.

Certainly talk with your doctor but I wouldn't worry too much until then. Good luck.

[SusanT]

I too have borderline high overall cholesterol, but my doctor is not overly concerned because my HDL/LDL ratios are so favorable. From what I've read, the best way to control your cholesterol is to focus on raising your HDL which responds well to exercise. Keep exercising and focus on saturated fats in your diet (cheese has a lot of saturated fat so you may have to cut back a little). Recent wisdom is that foods high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat (like shrimp) are ok.

[neenbeez]

Hey, Kwormann!

I think the best advice I saw in the replies to your e-mail is to try to relax and wait until your doctor gets back from vacation.

I turned 40 last October and found out that my cholesterol was 219 (and the bad numbers were too high also) and my blood pressure was 140/96. I went into denial for a few months, but just before Xmas I started a fairly intensive aerobic regimen and took off about 8-9 pounds. Although I haven't had my cholesterol retested yet, my blood pressure is back to normal--last test was 125/78.

I saw in your e-mail that your eating habits are healthy (it's not like you're chowing a pound of bacon & 12-pack of eggs a week!), but you say you exercise "fairly regularly".

I know that for me the big difference has been dedicating myself to a 5-day per week/45 min-1 hour per day aerobics program. (I do lo-impact tapes at home or power walk around the neighborhood).

I still believe you need to speak to your doctor first, but maybe upping your exercise program could make an impact on your cholesterol.

And, yes, cheese can make a heck of a difference in your cholesterol level. I'm a cheese-junky myself. And cutting back on cheese has been the most difficult challenge for me, especially when I love to eat the left-over buttery, cheesey crusts from my daughter's grilled cheese sandwiches!

The important thing is that you're aware of the problem and want to do something about it--everything will work out fine for you! Good luck!

[kwormann]

Thanks for all the help!

I ended up seeing the dr today due to a (painful) urinary tract infection, and he said that because my good cholesterol is 63 (normal is 30) that it will outweigh the bad cholesterol being high anf I shouldnt worry until closer to menopause (year from now).

You are right, though, about the exercise. I need to be more diligent!

Kim

[Ralph]

OK. As a board-certified family physician, I'll weigh in on this topic at last. There certainly have been some interesting comments thus far; I've just been waiting to see what direction this topic was taking.

Ideally, you want your total and LDL cholesterols low (<170-180 total, <100 LDL w/risk factors, <130 LDL without risk factors). The higher the HDL the better; HDL <35 is a risk factor though & HDL >65 becomes a NEGATIVE risk factor. Total & LDL can be lowered with weight loss, healthy diet, exercise, & smoking cessation. These same factors increase HDL, but the main determinant of HDL is genetics. Yes, finally something you can blame your parents for! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif So, raising HDL is not easy to do - expect only about a 10-20% increase with the most stringent of life-style changes.

The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL has been shown to be a good indicator of possible heart disease (<3.5-4.0 is good). Some doctors look at the LDL/HDL ratio, also; not me! I only start looking at LDL when I've started a patient on drug treatment.

Yes, arterial wall inflammation and homocysteine have been investigated as contributing factors, but the jury is still out.... As for Lipitor and the other statin drugs (Zocor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Lescol, & Baycol), they ALL lower total & LDL cholesterols & raise HDL, some better than others. However, only Zocor & Pravachol have been shown to reduce the incidence of heart attack & stroke. Many of us in medicine are not convinced that lowering total & LDL are all that is necessary to prevent heart attack & stroke. Unfortunately, the Zocor & Pravachol studies were unable to precisely pinpoint what other factors may be involved. The other drugs either have NOT shown decreased risk or have yet to be studied for that purpose. By and large, they ARE safe medications, but they can affect your liver, so I recommend liver function testing (just a blood test) every three months for the first year of treatment. BTW, I've never had to take someone off medication because of liver abnormalities!

Kim, please don't fret; your ratio is acceptable & unfortunately, even some of the most rigorous dieters have trouble lowering their numbers. This goes along with Funnybone's comments.
Mrs. Reber, nowhere have I seen or heard that the numbers are exaggerated for the purpose of awareness. The numbers I mentioned above are based on solid research.
BevP is right: Fat intake is more important than actual cholesterol intake.
SaraEmily, I've never heard of this "gugelplex" so I'll refrain from comment.

So what does this all mean? Basically, it's not fair! Some people can eat & do anything they want without detriment to their cholesterol - some people can't! Just like weight control. I don't tell patients what NOT to eat. That only makes those foods "forbidden fruits." Try to follow a generally healthy diet; splurge on occasion if you want, but make up for it tomorrow by being extra cautious; & exercise regularly. Unfortunately, very few studies have been done on women & not many more on people under age 40, so my approach is to take a hard look at the big picture including weight, diet, life-style, family history, etc. Many cardiologists I know take the approach that they'd rather venture into the unsure by putting a younger patient on meds as opposed to doing bypass surgery in 10 years. I can't say I disagree!

Oh, as for me personally: My father had a heart attack at age 55, has had high blood pressure, & high cholesterol. My mother was kicked out of a trial for Baycol (before it was FDA approved) because her cholesterol was too high! So, my genes stink!
Being a typical male & a physician to boot, I have not had my cholesterol checked for at least a few years. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif When it WAS last checked, total was just over 200, & HDL was 55. I exercise daily (walking briskly for ~30-50 minutes), try to follow a healthy diet (but I love snacks & I'm a starchoholic), & try to not gain weight (5'11", 170#).

[Don]

While I know that a lot of people are against taking medications, I found that Lipitor did wonders for me. It dropped my cholesterol 60 points. (Diet did absolutely nothing in my case.) Moreover, recent studies have shown that inflammation of the artery walls accounts for more than 2/3s of heart attacks. Lipitor, or any other statin drug, has the added benefit of reducing inflammations in the arteries. A number of physicians that I know are taking statin drugs, even if they don't have high cholesterol, because of the anti-inflammatory benefits. You might want to ask your doctor. There are certain tests (e.g., liver function) that have to be done to see if you are a candidate for statin drugs, or your doctor may have a better alternative for you.

[Sara Emily]

My DH has had a running problem with high cholesterol even though he maintains a pretty good lifestyle. When I went bonkers about not letting him have much fat in his diet, the readings lowered, but not enough to justify the MISERY he was in! Our doctor suggested that we try a more Mediterranean type diet (more olive oil and good fats, along with a BARRAGE of fruits and veggies, - the later part we were already doing) and he found mealtime infinitely more pleasant, as well as steadily continuing to bring his numbers down. Also, since homocystiene appears to be more of a culprit for heart attacks and strokes than even the chol. numbers, he takes a tiny folic acid tablet each morning to combat that. There is also a herbally based product that you can obtain from your pharmacist or health store that has quite a bit of notable research behind its choles. lowering benefits (without side effects!). It has the funny name of Gugelplex (sp.?), and is worth investigating if your doctor is indeed concerned about your current numbers.
The best of luck and health to you as you seek to achieve your optimum level of health! We're ALL pulling for you!!!!!

[kwormann]

Ralph


Thank you for your 2nd opinion. Since my regular dr is still out of town, I saw someone else and was still a bit unsure of his advice. You gave me the added asurance I needed to stop worrying! Thanks for the help!

Kim

[SusanD]

Yes, Ralph, thank you! You've helped me feel a little better too. Even though my total cholesterol is over 200, I know that my HDL is quite high (I think around 100 but can't remember the exact # off the top of my head). I'd never heard about the ratio of Total to HDL. I inherited my dad's cholesterol, but fortunately not his high blood pressure (knock on wood mine's been normal). And the thing is, you'd never know to look at him - he's in great shape, works out like crazy, and is a very healthy eater...guess he's a victim of genetics too.

Kim, I also just had another thought. Don't know what made this suddenly pop into my head, but...I remember that right after I went off the pill my cholesterol seemed to go up quite a bit. I know you said you had gone off (or were planning to??) that may have something to do with it as well. Ralph...do you know anything about this?

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 03-23-2001).]

[Ralph]

Originally posted by SusanD:
Yes, Ralph, thank you! You've helped me feel a little better too. Even though my total cholesterol is over 200, I know that my HDL is quite high (I think around 100 but can't remember the exact # off the top of my head). I'd never heard about the ratio of Total to HDL.


An HDL around 100? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif May I say I hate you? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif Just kidding of course!

[kwormann]

I hadnt heard that about the pill, but mine was even higher in August when I was still on it.

Im hoping that my moms genetics will weigh enough to help me.....the dr told her at her last test that he had never seen someone with such a high good cholesterol paired with such a low bad one!

kim

[Ralph]

Originally posted by SusanD:
I remember that right after I went off the pill my cholesterol seemed to go up quite a bit. I know you said you had gone off (or were planning to??) that may have something to do with it as well. Ralph...do you know anything about this?

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 03-23-2001).]


Oral contraceptives can increase HDL & triglycerides and can decrease LDL and total cholesterol.

So, stopping the pill can do just what you experienced.

[thekitchenangel]

Please refer to my new posting entitled "I love my low-carb diet." That should help you.

Good Luck!

[thekitchenangel]

Also, I would be interested in finding out what your triglicerite levels are. That is what you need to watch. A normal triglicerite level should be around 150.

[kwormann]

They told me over the phone so I dont remember, but I should get the paper sometime this week or next and Ill let you know http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusanD]

Can't remember what mine are either, but I had a test last week because we upgraded our life insurance - so I should be getting the results from that soon.

[louandy]

If any of you live in the Boston/Providence area, there's a new website that can help you find foods that fit your "diet goal". It's smartmouth.com - just tell the site what your diet goal is, and the system will find foods that are the best "match" to your goal. You can look at nutrition labels and even build your list so you know excatly what to buy in the store. It's free and easy - shopping and cooking is so much easier now.