I think I've written about this twice, but now I am a bit frustrated.
Had my physical 2 weeks ago, and went for the fasting cholesterol blood work last Friday. Just checked my results on line, and nothing I am doing is working. My bad cholesterol (LDL) is now in the "high range," after years of being borderline. My good cholesterol (HDL) is through the roof good, and it went up (which is good) 20 points. The total went up 10 points, maybe driven by the HDL. It is so high that I don't want to state the number, but it is about the same as it was before I started cycling, was 20 pounds overweight, and had been slacking on the exercise.
I stopped eating red meat (beef, pork, veal) about 15 months ago. I would say 80% of my meals are vegetarian, the rest have fish or poultry. I rarely eat dessert and have a very limited amount of sugar in my diet. No soda or other inflammatory things. I eat avocado, blueberries, and nuts in small amounts daily, as well as a glass of red wine about 5X a week. You guys know how much I exercise... about 30-40 hours a month. The only thing I can't control is the amount of sitting I do at work, 3 days a week. I get up every 45 minutes, between clients, but I don't think people want a therapist who is standing up!
My PCP wasn't even going to test for this this year, but I said I wanted to see the results of my dietary changes. I am glad I inisisted. No history at all of heart disease in my mom's family, and even in my dad's family, my dad had a heart attack at about age 84. He had smoked for 65 years... his dad had a heart attack at about 60, but he was overweight, smoked, and drank a lot of hard liquor. That's it.
I am going to call to make an appointment to talk to my doctor, but I have been freaked out by heart disease since I was in my 30s and my uncle (by marriage) died of a heart attack at age 52. He had the family history from hell, so it's not the same, but I am trying not to catastrophize this, picturing my arteries closing up.
I would take meds if it's suggested, but every doctor I have seen has said no, because my ratio is good.
Just venting.