Opinions of Cholestrol levels

[harrie]

Total cholestrol: 246 (high)
Triglyceride: 78
HCL: 96 (good cholestrol)
LDL: 134 (bad cholestrol) high
RATIO of CHOL/HDL: 2.56 which is ideal

Need an opinion: My total is high, but my ratio is good.
Is this a concern?

I am on Femara and I think this elevated my levels.
I exercise a lot and eat well, so that probably why my HCL is so good as well as my ration.

[Pam P]

Harrie - You're right the #'s are high, but the ratio is excellent - I think anything under 4 something is good, so I think that's what counts. Isn't LDL under 130 okay? So that's not far off, and HDL of 96, wow, excellent. I would think the doc would be happy with these numbers.

[Darlene Denise]

Maryanne: How about giving fish oil a try. I was on Crestor, but at met bc dx on my liver, onc took me off. Once things settled down my pc said better to not stress the liver but we want you as healthy as possible, so, lets use fish oil and see. I use an enetric coated fish oil (Ihave reflux) and have been on it a year now and it has been beneficial. I take 3000mg a day. Talk to your doc about it!

Good luck!
Darlene

[AlaskaAngel]

Hi Harrie,

I had to puzzle over this same question. My diet has been focused on balancing omega-3's and omega-6's types of fats, and my cholesterol results are quite similar to yours.

My PCP is especially educated about cardiac matters, but was persistent in recommending that I take medication to help lower the 2 cholesterol readings that are still high, in spite of the "good" cholesterol (HDL) being excellent and the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) being excellent.

Some of this is new territory for not just us, but for the docs as well. As a way of deciding whether or not the high triglycerides and high total cholesterol were enough for me to take medication in spite of the low LDL and high HDL, I agreed to have the cardiac CRP test done, which measures cardiac risk.

My cardiac CRP didn't come back as high risk, or even as being moderate risk, but as LOW risk.

My best guess at what is happening is that because we are eating a much better balance of foods (and in particular, fats) than the population than docs are using in establishing their "normal" cholesterol readings, that those norms are less applicable to us. I am just guessing but I think our choice of fats is resulting in the higher total cholesterol and triglycerides, but may still be protective for us.

It is also possible that the therapy we have had has changed the way that fats are processed, but unfortunately not much study is done on people before and after treatment to be able to know whether that might be true or not.

There are other risk factors that would be essential to consider as well. If you have diabetes, hypertension, or possibly other health problems such as being very overweight, those also DO count.

I don't have diabetes, hypertension, or other medical problems. I declined to take the medication, and my PCP agreed with me.

AlaskaAngel

[Mary Jo]

My total cholesterol number too is high, however, as you can see, the numbers broken down are excellent and my internist tells me these numbers are excellent.

Total - 215
HDL - 91 (should be higher than 40)
LDL - 114 (should be lower than 130)
TRIG - 49 (should be lower than 150)

Two years ago my LDL was less than 100. It was 95....my doc said ideally, they like to see LDL at 100 or below. That is my goal for this years check up.

Mary Jo

[suzan w]

I will have to look up my numbers, but I am taking lovastatin to lower cholesterol, have been for 3 years. It has lowered my cholesterol, where diet did nothing. But now I am developing type 2 diabetes and someone suggested that it could be a side effect from the cholesterol meds...eeeeeeeeks can't win! I will look up my numbers and let you know!!! xo Suzan ps Cheerios did nothing for me!

[harrie]

I do take an Omega 3 supplement. Do not have high bp, diabetes and my thyroid tests are all good.
I think I consume a lot of the "good" fats...peanut butter, nuts, avocado, ....
I started eating oatmeal for breakfast most mornings again.

I really appreciate all of your inputs. Thank you.