Cholesterol, what the?

[shootingstar]

I've known people personally who are skinny...and have high chloestrol. So weight is not always a factor at all.

[Crankin]

Helene, not sure what the terms app-lipid a/b mean. Is this another way of referring to HDL and LDL? Without knowing the ratio of HDL/LDL your total # doesn't mean that much. My total was 250 last fall, but my HDL (good cholesterol) is so high at 90 that it makes my ratio really good and it can also bump up the total number.
Just wondering if this is referred to in a different way in Canada, or these are other proteins that I don't know about.
I am not one who craves sugar, but I have made a concerted effort to decrease it even more. I got laughed at the other day at work, when I refused a piece of very good cake celebrating a colleague's upcoming wedding. I'd say I have dessert once a week in the summer, because I do occasionally eat soft serve ice cream, and less at other times of the year. There are no sweets in my house, except fruit. I haven't eaten junk food (chips, fried foods) on any regular basis in 35+ years, when I had to lose 25 pounds. It worked, so I figured what good would that stuff do me? I am even more convinced that sugar causes inflammation, which can cause issues in the arteries, with all that I read, so it's not so hard for me to do this. However, I don't get dogmatic about it. I will not be restricting myself while on vacation that starts later today, especially as it includes 4 days of city walking and 6 days of hard cycling.

[Helene2013]

Crankin,
It is apo-lipo (known also as Apo B). I googled quickly a link for you so you can understand better. It is a "deeper" test - just blood drawn too to complete the basic blood panel used for cholesterol testing.

https://labtestsonline.org/understan...apob/tab/test/

Our numbers seem to be different also. We don't read the 250, etc.

Total HDL/LDL is one reading. Then you have that Apo B one that is even "better" to understand where you truly are at. At least from my understanding with the doctor's discussion we had.

The total HDL/LDL is getting to be less and less a reference, at least from what my doctor said. I don't know much about all those numbers but know that we are in the right bracket. Just too high into that ok bracket so we will keep working at it. My total is at 4.1 (and max to reach to keep on "safe" side is 5.2)

the numbers in Canada are like this for basic testing. Have not checked for USA
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-625-.../11732-eng.htm

[Crankin]

Thanks for doing the research for me! So, it is something different, but related. I think I will ask to get this done in the fall. My HDL/LDL ration is in the excellent category, despite my high total #. But, my LDL is borderline acceptable and my triglycerides are just OK. Like ACG, I can't exercise any more than I do, or there will be other health consequences and my diet, while always been good, is now just where I want it. Don't think I can deny myself any more than I do. I would take a statin if I had to. I have an irrational fear of CV disease.