Just did a home cholesterol test, I take it higher isn't necessarily better.

[TideRoll]

And I've studied so hard, too. Put up something in the range of 255 in terms of total cholesterol, which is apparently high. First one I ever took, so I am really pumped about putting up a big number. Home test so total Cholesterol is all I got.

Seriously, I don't eat a lot of fried foods, I hate fatty foods (O.K. I make an exception maybe once every week or two for bacon); heck, I don't even eat hamburgers. I'm not much in the veggie department, though. The one thing I don't do that I am going to have to start doing again is regular, strenuous exercise (perhaps coaching my kids' soccer team will provide something along that line). I am just a hair under six feet and weigh around 160. I don't smoke cigarettes and never have, and with my schedule lately, I haven't had a cigar in a couple of weeks, rarely having more than two a week anyway.

Shoot, if I am going to have high cholesterol taking reasonably good care of myself, I'm going to start eating all kinds of delicious crap that is bad for me. At least I'd enjoy it.

So, what is it going to take to get me fifteen or twenty points lower?

[Blueface]

Dude,
Not good.
Don't let it get out of control so you don't hear a Cardiologist tell you the grim news I got.
Work on lowering it.
Lots you can do.
Fish Oils.
Pomegranate juice.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
On and on.

Diet alone is not my problem.
Genetics is.

[macjoe53]

Just so you know, high cholesterol is not always the result of your eating or drinking habits. Sometimes its just runs in a family. I have a friend who doesn't smoke, doesn't eat fast food and only drinks a little wine. He is a skinny shit who used to run at least five miles a day. His cholesterol has always out of control and run between 200 and 250. He had a "mild" heart attack three years ago and now he's on all sorts of medicine and can't run.

I, on the other hand, drink what I want, eat what I want (with the exception that I have to watch my carbs because of a mild case of Type II diabetes). I'm 54 years old and don't run because of back surgery from an auto accidents 10 years ago. My doctor is amazed when I go in every six months for my check up and my cholesterol is in the 140s and my BP has never been over 128/76. He doesn't say anything about my occasional cigar smoking either.

Point is, go see your doctor and get it under control before you have to do something extreme.

[Major Captain Silly]

I can add Niacin and oatmeal. Mine was over 300 a few years ago and my doctor put me on Lipitor. I changed doctors last year and he wanted to see if I really needed the lipitor and took me off it for a few months. I'm hovering at 200 with no drugs and a changed food perspective. I don't think your 255 is cause for s Statin drug yet. You can bring it down by changing eating habits.

MCS

[muziq]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

Point is, go see your doctor and get it under control before you have to do something extreme.

Dude speaks the truth. Go to your doctor and get a full blood workup. Every male on the paternal side of my family has died of heart disease, but none of them knew of our genetic tendency towards high cholesterol. I'm the first generation to manage it, and for my particular health situation, it has f- all to do with diet and exercise. My doc started me with diet changes, then exercise regimens, then added fish oil, and finally a series of statin mixtures until we settled on what I take now. A good doc will start you out with the cheapest/smallest changes and then ratchet things up if you show no change in your cholesterol levels. If you have kids, a family, or even just friends who care about you it's nothing to mess around with. Good luck!

[Cigarmark]

Originally Posted by Major Captain Silly

I can add Niacin and oatmeal. Mine was over 300 a few years ago and my doctor put me on Lipitor. I changed doctors last year and he wanted to see if I really needed the lipitor and took me off it for a few months. I'm hovering at 200 with no drugs and a changed food perspective. I don't think your 255 is cause for s Statin drug yet. You can bring it down by changing eating habits.

MCS

My doctor put me on Niacin for triglycerides and to raise my good cholesterol. In his opinion statins are a last resort. the only problem with niacin is the hot flashes. If I don't eat something before taking it, watch out! Man getting old sucks!

[Blueface]

BTW,
I was at 309 combined.
Now down to 165.
Can be done and worth doing.

[TideRoll]

Hey, thanks, guys. This is all good advice, and I appreciate it. I think I'll go ahead and schedule a visit and get the whole workup, lipid panel, etc., to see exactly what my good and bads are. Good to know about the fish oils and niacin. The exercise is going to be tough right now considering I would rather run than do inside stuff and it is 99 degrees on my back porch and it is 7:00 PM.

Oh well. There's only one way to stop getting older.

Svillekid, you're up, if you are reading along. You've got what, eight or nine years on me?

[TideRoll]

Originally Posted by Blueface

BTW,
I was at 309 combined.
Now down to 165.
Can be done and worth doing.

Now that's taking it to it, Mr. Carlos. Kudos!

[SeanGAR]

Yeah, 255 is definitely higher than you want. As already pointed out, genetics is the largest contributor in cholesterol but dietary and other factors (exercise) are also very important.

I have no experience with home tests. I assume you took it fasted? It will make a huge difference whether you took the test 2-3 hours after 3 slices of extra cheese calf brains pizza or in the morning after fasting. Always double check these things. I took a test fasted and was something like 165 and took one after pizza and was over 200 (clinic analyses). Makes a BIG difference. Make sure you did the 12 hour fast deal for accurate LDL (bad one) and TAGs..

It is important to get the breakdown (HDL, LDL) i.e., good, bad. This means seeing a doctor and talking about options. You want somebody who is willing to look at dietary changes and maybe a slightly increased exercise regimen as a management tool rather than drugs you'll be stuck taking forever ... assuming of course your total chol is actually high ... a home test doesn't convince me per se.

Things that increase good cholesterol are red wine (alcohol in general, but red wine has antioxidants as a bonus), monounsaturated fats and exercise. Fish oils are beneficial, I take a couple of pills a day and try to eat marine fish as much as I can. "Double up on that smoked salmon .... for medicinal purposes, you see".

Take the test again fasted, if still high go get a physical and let them know your number. 255 is a cause for concern but you don't have to sweat buckets here. Go see a doc and have a proper analysis done. In the meantime, smoke a good one.

[TideRoll]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Yeah, 255 is definitely higher than you want. As already pointed out, genetics is the largest contributor in cholesterol but dietary and other factors (exercise) are also very important.

....

Take the test again fasted, if still high go get a physical and let them know your number. 255 is a cause for concern but you don't have to sweat buckets here. Go see a doc and have a proper analysis done. In the meantime, smoke a good one.

Thank you for your perspective (and all of my BOTL as well). A lot of the home tests are fairly accurate, though like the one I took are non-fasting and do not break out the various components. Best I can tell, it is a good but fairly dull tool to determine if a fine tool should be employed. In this case, I am following up with my GP this upcoming week. In the meantime, though, I like the idea of a glass of red wine (as if I needed an excuse). Also, I am an avid lover of seafood. All in all, I'm beginning to like the looks of the cure for a guy in my position.

Also, I think I wil take your last bit of advice soon. I am due.

[kansashat]

Here is my story......

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...=fired+lipitor

[nozero]

Mine has ranged from the low of 269 to the high of 302. I've been taking a generic simvastatin for about 90 days and am currently due to go for blood work again now, then it's back to the Doc for a re-evaluation. I take two blood pressure meds and Nexium too. Unfortunately, there is currently no medication available for my emphysema.


I have no idea how accurate the home tests are and would be very interested in to hear if you go and get it rechecked by your Doctor, which would be my suggestion. Take care and I wish you the best.

Here's a link more information:
LDL and HDL Cholesterol: What's Bad and What's Good?
http://www.americanheart.org/present...identifier=180

Originally Posted by TideRoll

Hey, thanks, guys. This is all good advice, and I appreciate it. I think I'll go ahead and schedule a visit and get the whole workup, lipid panel, etc., to see exactly what my good and bads are. Good to know about the fish oils and niacin. The exercise is going to be tough right now considering I would rather run than do inside stuff and it is 99 degrees on my back porch and it is 7:00 PM.

Oh well. There's only one way to stop getting older.

Svillekid, you're up, if you are reading along. You've got what, eight or nine years on me?

Yep, and about a hundred pounds, too!! I haven't seen 160 lbs since probably as a Junior in High school!

[omowasu]

Originally Posted by Major Captain Silly

I can add Niacin and oatmeal. Mine was over 300 a few years ago and my doctor put me on Lipitor. I changed doctors last year and he wanted to see if I really needed the lipitor and took me off it for a few months. I'm hovering at 200 with no drugs and a changed food perspective. I don't think your 255 is cause for s Statin drug yet. You can bring it down by changing eating habits.

MCS

Smoke more cigars!

Seriously!

Nicotine IS Niacin. The liver breaks Nicotine down to NIcotinic ACId - also known as NIACIn. One of those unmentioned "positives" of occasional nicotine enjoyment.

I was able to get mine down to "excellent" from over 300 by eliminating most meats, carbs, etc from my diet. I only eat meat once per day, other meals are all vegetable/grain with little fat. I take Omega3's, dont eat any deep fried foods and only minimal fast foods (3 times/week). I consume roughly 1500 cal/day. No statins or other meds (yet). Smoke the occasional cigar to keep my niacin up, and work out lightly to moderately.

Not saying it will work for everyone, of course, but I shaved off an amazing amount of icky stuff doing the above. And, of course, I had an excuse to puff!