Cholesterol, what the?

[SheFly]

I have a family history of heart disease and high cholesterol. I have had levels (total) as high as 300, and as low as 180. The past two tests (so one year) have me hovering around 233. Like others have said, that DOES NOT tell the whole story! My ratio of HDL:LDL has improved, despite the numbers getting higher. Like you, I can't exercise more - I ride 10-15 hours per week already. While my diet isn't GREAT, it also isn't terrible. I have been going to the same PCP for years, and she knows me well enough that for ME, this number, and the ratio is OK as is - no statins required. We've discussed it, I've had heart tests, and we agree that we will continue to monitor every 6 months, and keep tabs on where it is.

I have tried fish oil supplements daily, to no avail. I have cut lots of foods, and reduced amounts, all to no avail. For me, it is genetic, and something I need to try to manage as best as possible.

My dad has had 3 angioplasties and a heart bypass. My paternal grandfather died of a massive heart attack at 45, and his wife (my grandmother) the same at 65. My maternal grandfather was a double amputee from arteriosclerosis, and died of a heart attack at 65. It doesn't, genetically, get any worse .

My point is, that for YOU, maybe this is OK without going on a statin. Has it been high in the past? Can you talk to your doc to see what alternatives there might be - like changing your diet more, and then re-testing in 6 months? I would wait until you had ALL of the numbers before making any decisions, but remember that ultimately, the statin is YOUR choice.

SheFly

[GLC1968]

Did your doctor recommend statins without having the LDL/HDL breakdown as well? If so, I'd find a new doctor. Assuming they DID know the numbers, it's important that you know them too before making a decision like this.

My chol is well over 200...probably about 250 or so. My triglycerides barely register (less than 45) and my HDL is so high that the ratio is significantly better than 'optimal'. Additionally, my LDL particle size is large, meaning that it's not the dangerous type. If I'd gone off my total only and started taking statins, I'd be adding a crazy risk, screwing up my beautiful lipid profile and wasting money for zero reason. It is very important to know the whole story and do your own research. Many doctors today are still touting the 'lower your cholesterol at all costs and avoid all saturated fats'....ideas that are outdated and frankly, in many cases (not all, mind you), flat out wrong.

This blog post (Chris Kresser) links to the 2014 study where they compiled all previous data and analyzed it again:
http://chriskresser.com/new-study-pu...disease-coffin

[Catrin]

I concur with GLC, those numbers are very important. My chol is currently 230, not far from GLC, but my HDL is very high, my ratio literally couldn't be better and, as well, my triglycerides are only around 40. There is a lot more to look at than a single number.

Interestingly enough, when I was on a conventional American low-fat diet - my chol. was much lower, certainly. However my ratio was horrible, my trigs were very high, and my HDL was virtually non-existent (at one time it was 5). More and more research is coming out regarding the interaction of all of this. Don't go on the statins without more information. Perhaps that will prove to be your best choice, but perhaps not. If you doc isn't interested in providing more information - and I do encourage you to get the test where they look at the LDL particle size, find a new doctor who will.

[ACG]

Well people, you have been a wealth of information, so I thank you. Found lots of great articles.

I'm still waiting for my actual numbers, called the doctors office to get my numbers, waiting for a call back. I just want my numbers so I can go from there.

Will keep you posted.

[ny biker]

Well people, you have been a wealth of information, so I thank you. Found lots of great articles.

I'm still waiting for my actual numbers, called the doctors office to get my numbers, waiting for a call back. I just want my numbers so I can go from there.

Will keep you posted.

If you don't feel your current doctor is knowledgeable enough, make an appointment to review the full results with a cardiologist. I recently had an EKG and echocardiogram which found a couple of anomalies, and I was not able to get a good explanation of the results from the people at the primary care office who ordered the tests. I got a copy of the written report and took it to a cardiologist, who was able to explain them and assess what they meant in the context of my lifestyle and overall health history.

Good luck.

[BikeDutchess]

I had borderline cholesterol for years, and my LDL was not great either, but I resisted going on statins for a long, long time because my HDL was great and my Framingham risk score was low. It was not until I had some in-depth lipoprotein testing done, including particle testing, that I agreed that a statin made sense, especially in conjunction with my developing pre-diabetes. The specialist who tested said that with my lipoprotein pattern, it would be very unlikely that more exercise and nutritional modification would get the LDL to appropriate levels (and while not a sports fanatic, I wasn't exactly a couch potato either). The additional testing can be very revealing.

[Helene2013]

Reopening an old thread since the info is still good and why opening another one. hihi

We (hubby and I) had cholesterol tests done in March and it came up sooooo high for hubby that doc wanted almost to put him on statins. Mine was borderline and she wanted a recheck in 3 months' time. There was no way we'd go on Lipitor or the like before making serious changes to our life styles. Now...we can't excercise more than we actually do. So it needed to be on the food side.

We cut everything that was bad fat (chips, bacon, etc). We truly wanted to see if 3 months would make a difference in the numbers. She also wanted us to test for our api-lipo. If after all this the numbers stayed high, then we'd seriously think statins. But not before working hard at this "test".

Our numbers kept going up at every testing over the years.

So we did the test just 2 weeks ago and finally got the results. We are clear!!! In the safe zone. Both of us. The total is almost to mid-point but still too high for me and our Apo B is perfect, although we could be a notch lower.

But doctor is very happy that we opted for changing our food habits instead of going for the simple way: a pill!

In the process, I lost 12 pounds and hubby lost 7 (he does not really have much to lose but still did). Targeting another 20# for me but I may be pushing it a bit.

So yes, sometimes, changing your food intake choices, can improve your ratios. It is not easy. It would be so much more fun to munch on fried chicken, chips, etc...but being healthier weighs more on my scale than some of the food I had to drop....with the pounds I had over.