Anyone here have high cholesterol???

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Just found out today my overall level is 243 and my triglycerides are 305 (the upper limit on that is 149!!!).

Since I was 18, I've had doctors griping at me about it, but it bothers me now (I am 33).

I'm a non-smoker, have LOW blood pressure, am in pretty decent health. My grandmother always had high cholesterol and had a heart attack at 42. She had to have artificial heart valves put in and she ended up dying of heart disease, so I know I have to take this seriously.

They told me lay off saturated fat and cholesterol as much as possible, stop blowing off my workouts so much and come back in six weeks to check it again.

Sound like good advice? I've been googling this on the internet. Planning on powerwalking four times a week.

Sigh.

[MercutioATC]

1. Better diet and exercise? Good advice. However...

if you have a family history of high cholesterol, that may not be enough. Try it and see, but be prepared for the need for meds.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Ech.

That was NOT what I wanted to hear, but I was wondering about that.

IF one does have to take meds for high cholesterol, is it for LIFE???

(pleasesayno, pleasesayno, pleasesayno)

[vi5]

8. It is probably for life, but honestly.....

Everybody I've talked to about statins says that they live up to the hype. They've found next to no side effects and they've even found other benefits to them as well (reducing heart attacks in diabetics. I have a few close friends who are doctors who are skeptical of most "new" drugs who have told me that statins should be put in the water supply, that's how confident they are in their results and effects. So maybe they are overstating the case, but these things have had really good results from what I've been reading up on them.

[vi5]

3. I'm 34 and have also struggled with it.....

I had high cholesterol when I was a teenager, but due to some unrelated medication I was taking at the time. It had always been on the high side but it is genetic in my family. When I was about 32 or 33 my doctor decided that even though I was a little overweight that the levels my cholesterol were at, even with diet and excercise, would likely only drop 10-15% on their own. So he prescribed pravachal, which is a statin. At the same time I also started dieting and working out and my cholesterol has been peachy keen for the past year and a half due to a combination of the medication and the weight loss and better diet.

[Spinzonner]

4. Do you eat meat

or other major sources of animal fat?

You might consider going vegetarian if only for a while to see if you can tolerate it and it has any effect.

The alternatives include statins and periodic liver checks.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

7. I am a semi-vegetarian

I really don't like most meat, so that's not too bad. When I do eat meat I NEVER pig out on it. I've just never been a big carnivore. And I only drink skim milk. My diet really ISN'T all that bad, thus I have always found this a bit puzzling.

[Mara Steele]

12. cheese, butter and eggs

all high cholesterol, too.

But you knew that. :hi:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Yeah dammit

can I give another big blustery sigh?

I have an uncle who had really abnormally high cholesterol and he SO hated taking pills that he would do ANYTHING not to take the drugs. So he went on a VERY low fat, low cholesterol diet and worked out five times a week for six months. Only lowered his overall by TEN points.

He grudgingly went on the drugs and they worked wonders.

But I still think about the fish he ate almost every day and rice and no cheese...........:-(

[Spinzonner]

14. There are oyher dietary measures

including adding some (more) grains, like oats, and taking bulking agents like Metamucil that will have some effect for some people.

It depends on how effective they will be and whether that will be enough. Dont forget these target numvers are averages and may not mean the same for everyone.

Also, you might keep careful records of everything you est for a while. There could be other offending elements.

[RebelOne]

49. I'm a vegetarian, well, sort of, because I do eat seafood.

And my cholestrol is very high. The doctor told me that I can blame it on my parents, who both had high cholestrol.

[nini]

5. Mine fluctuates between 150 and 180

I'm lucky

[FDRLincoln]

6. statin drugs

Even with diet, exercise, and all kinds of over-the-counter supplements, my cholesterol never got below 330, with a horrible triglyceride profile. My doctor said that about 75% of your cholesterol level is genetically determined by how your liver works, and that for a lot of people diet and exercise will not solve the problem.

I started taking Lipitor, and after a few weeks my level dropped to 190 with an excellent triglyceride profile.

I know some people here like to bash the pharmaceutical industry, and you'll probably hear some negative things about the statin drugs. I would try the diet and exercise and over-the-counter stuff first, but if it doesn't work the drugs may be your solution. Don't be afraid of them. Lipitor seems to be the best of the group, with the fewest side effects. It's expensive, and hopefully you have good insurance, but it is better than a heart attack or stroke.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. First of all

what's the over the counter stuff?

Secondly, did you notice a difference in how you felt when your cholesterol came down? Because I don't really feel bad or anything, but I'm wondering if I would feel BETTER if it came down.

Thanks....we're going to try the better diet and exercise route for a little while then go from there....

[FDRLincoln]

21. over the counter

The best over-the-counter stuff is fish oil supplements, which I take in coordination with the lipitor on my doctor's orders. Fish oil by itself dropped my cholesterol from 360 to 330, so it did help, just not enough.

Some people say that garlic supplements work as well but they didn't do anything for me.

I would do the following:

1) exercise.
2) reduce intake of refined sugars. I'm not a believer in 100% Atkins, but I do think that excess refined sugar and flour are a major problem.
3) fish oil supplements.
4) take an aspirin a day. helps prevent heart attacks.

If that doesn't work, then go the drug route, although continue doing the other stuff too since it is just plain healthy.

Above all, take it seriously. My dad had a quadruple bypass at 57 and a massive stroke at 64. He's spent the last 10 years crippled and speechless in a nursing home. If the statin drugs had come along 15 years earlier, he would likely have been spared much misery.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

24. Oh my gosh

I am so sorry that happened to your dad, how horrible.

Horror stories like THAT are enough to motivate a person. I definitely do not want to go through things like that OR put my family through that.

Thanks....I am going to ask my dr about the fish oil capsules...

[FDRLincoln]

32. motivation

It is my primary motivation. I still have problems....I need to lose 50 pounds. But I keep close track of my blood pressure and cholesterol, and try to eat right most of the time. We have lots of advantages of knowledge that our parents did not.

I will tell you this: after what happened with my father, I'm not really afraid to die. I'm afraid of having a half-life like he does. Seeing what it does to him and my mother is all the motivation I need.

[trof]

40. Been on statins for 10 years.

Started on pravachol, but my doc (who is absolutely EXCELLENT) recently changed me to lipitor. She says it gives more bang for the buck.
No complaints and no side effects. Just think of it as another vitamin every day.

[Hoping4Change]

37. The following link to Dean Ornish addresses your situation.

http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/1/3079_628?printing=true


I don't have high cholesterol or any heart problems but used Ornish recipes and lost 60 pounds, however I use more Essential Fatty Acids than he suggests. (ground flax seed and FlaxOil) as well I cook with Olive Oil.


I know people who have reduced cholestrol eating real oatmeal every day which takes just minutes to make. Also studies show ground flax seed reduces cholesterol:


"Flax has gained attention because of human experiments that have shown that adding ALA to the diet reduces serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL). The effect has be demonstrated in healthy men and women. Eating flaxseed muffins that supplied 50 g flaxseed /day was enough to reduce total cholesterol by 6% and LDL by 9%. The effect appears to be even greater if the subjects had started with high cholesterol levels..."


http://www.medicinalfoodnews.com/vol03/issue4/flax.htm



"Assessing the Two Versions of the Diet Dean Ornish, MD, Recommends
"Prevention" vs. "Reversal" Diet Guidelines" WebMD


http://webcenter.health.webmd.netscape.com/content/article/74/89186

[KurtNYC]

9. What are you eating?

Sounds more like trans fat and HFCS/sugar (triglycerides).

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. Eh.

My diet's ok, nothing super healthy, but not bad, either. I eat my fruits and veggies, only whole grain breads, low on meat, skim milk, but I do eat other dairy that is higher fat and I do engage in the occasional Tex-Mex, pizza, etc.

[nickinSTL]

11. Time to do something about it

I'm in a somewhat similar situation.

31, have high triglycerides and low HDL. My total is ok, and my LDL is good.

But, my dad had a heart attack in his early 40s, and a triple bypass in his early 60s. He's got the same kind of triglyceride/HDL problem I do.

So, I'm working on exercise and changing my diet, and if that doesn't work, I'll try fish oil capsules if my doc says it's a good idea (my dad's on them and it seems to have had some effect) That might not be an option for you depending on your LDL because the fish oil can actually raise the LDL.

I know there's a chance that at some point I'll have to be on drugs for the cholesterol, but I'm trying to do what I can to exhaust every other avenue first.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

23. I'll ask my doctor about

fish oil capsules...I'm going next week to talk about what I need to do.

Dratted cholesterol....

[Westegg]

15. Yes, diet and exercise can help. But this may not be enough...

I'm in the same boat as you, pretty much. My doctor told me that I needed more than diet and exercise and so I now take Zocor, which has helped. That you don't smoke is good. If you drink alcohol, be aware that this can raise your bad cholesterol. Big time, frankly. Also note that meds such as Zocor can be tough on your liver. Not to mention tough on your wallet. You're right that you need to take it seriously, based on your family history. Four out of five members of my family have high cholesterol, so yeah, I DO believe it's inherited. Take care of it now---the sooner the better.

I wish you good health, friend.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

19. Wow

this is all such a downer, but I know I probably need to face the music. When I was younger, it was so easy to just blow it off.

Hopefully my insurance (which is fairly decent) will cover it if I need meds.

Thank you, same to you.

[Westegg]

41. I didn't mean to bring you down! What I wrote was just MY experience...

...and I'll simply add that having to take a med for high cholesterol is not that big of a deal. It's hardly unusual these days, and the drugs created to deal with this very common problem are getting better and better.

Best,

Westegg

[Kadie]

17. Try some foods to help lower your cholesterol

Whole grains - whole wheat bread, even cherios (so they say)

Oatmeal - try oat and bran muffins if you don't like the cereal.

Salmon - Olive oil -

Flax seed - Grind up some flax in a coffee grinder, sprinkle it over some frozen yogurt or on your breakfast cereal.


Good Luck!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. I'll try those

I already always do whole grain breads and I LOVE oatmeal, but I didn't know about the rest, thanks!

[Kadie]

26. Here is a little info on Flax - link

http://www.healthcastle.com/flax.shtml

[HysteryDiagnosis]

35. Flax seed - Grind up some flax in a coffee grinder

Works nice dudn't it??

I eat a tablespoon of Soy Lecithin a day... just to be safe. Soy Lecithin helps reduce fats in the liver... as well as acting like a sort of "palmolive" for the bloodstream.... in regards to blood lipids. You won't have to look much further than the following site.. there is some purty durn good science there....

http://www.nutritionfocus.com/

Go there... click on Alpha Protein Lowered Total and LDL Blood Cholesterol in Animals

>>"Alpha soy protein had a powerful cholesterol lowering effect in the animals we studied. We are currently conducting a clinical trial to determine if similar effects will occur in humans," commented Dr Robert Nicolosi, who conducted the research for Central Soya.

Alpha soy protein can be used to formulate products that meet the FDA's soy protein health claim. "With the soy protein health claim on a package label, manufacturers are able to promote their products in the rapidly growing functional foods market," said Holt.<<

[SarahB]

18. The Atkins paradox

Mine went from 289 (yes, that bad!) to 189. I forgot my triglyceride numbers, but they're very low, so is my LDL's. High cholesterol runs in my family. I have the only normal range in my immediate family of origin (including my 5'10", 140 pound, 30 year old brother who has his at 250).

I eat lots of vegatables, chicken, beef, fish, some fruits, natural cheeses, soy, and some whole grains. I eat no sugar, white flour, corn syrup laden foods, or hydrogenated oils. (Well, rarely anyway.) Most of the fat in my diet comes from olive oil used in cooking.

I also get regular exercise.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. What did you mean "the Atkins paradox?"

I don't do Atkins....

[MercutioATC]

27. The Atkins diet doesn't limit fats.

My bad cholesterol and triglycerides went way down on Atkins, too and I don't think I'd ever eaten so much fat in my life.

[KurtNYC]

36. It's the sugars in "low fat" foods I tell ya

Triglycerides are basically unmetabolized complex sugars. A warning flag for diabetes.

Julia Child lived to 92 and eventually died of kidney failure complications (not coronary problems). She never saw a stick of butter in her adult life that she didn't have plans for.

[SarahB]

31. I do though

People have the misconception that Atkins is about eating nothing but sausage and sticks of butter, but when it's followed correctly like I do, it's very healthy and most people reap benefits with regard to cholesterol and blood sugar problems. :)

It is not so much fat as types of fat and sugar. People think vegetable oil is healthier than saturated fats for example, but many processed oils are hydrogenated which are essentially chemically induced saturated fats our bodies weren't meant to handle. Monounsaturated oils (like olive or peanut) are best, followed by polyunsaturated, followed by saturated (found in dairy, etc.).

I also went from size 18/20 to an 8/10. :D

[KurtNYC]

25. Triglycerides are related to your intake of sugar and alcohol

Foods labelled "low fat" are often loaded with complex sugars like HFCS. The good news is triglycerides will come down promptly if you avoid those. Cholestrol will take more time.

There is free (trial) nutrition software available which may help you make better choices, here:
http://www.count3.com/main.htm

[Nite Owl]

28. Funny you should ask.

I went for blood work last week and the doctor called me yeaterday and told me that my cholesterol was 281. Called in a Rx for Pravacol to the pharmacy and started it last night. I eat little meat also and nothing fried. My only bad thing is Ben and Jerry's and just a couple of times a month. I need more exercise me thinks. Did the Doc recommend any drug or just wait until after the diet change. I hate taking this and probably some day they will find out there is no realtionship between high cholesterol and heart problems in some people. In the meantime I'm going to take it so as not to taunt the cholesterol gods.

[papau]

29. If you are part of the 25% of the population that can handle Niacin

1000 Mg a day cuts the score in half or more - better than a statin

But if you are like myself, one gets flushed - and then itch to the point that it is not a good life style choice.

There continues to be no actuarial connection between cholesterol and any health problems (morbidity), nor does there seem to be a cholesterol intake and cholesterol in the blood direct connection. But actuaries do "guess" at an amount of poorer health based on some less than definitive stat studies of hospital populations.

Because the logic seems solid

Which is why you may want lower cholesterol -

good luck - but take frequent liver tests (via a blood test) to be sure the downside is not greater than the upside.

[CO Liberal]

30. My Triglicerides Were So High They Couldn't Measure Them!!

I've been in Lipitor for the past few years - everything is fine now.

[hackwriter]

33. I had this problem

Mine weren't as high; my triglycerides were just over 200 and my cholesterol was 228, with high LDL (which is really the number you need to look at.

EXERCISE is really the best way to lower it, combined with giving up as much satfat as you can. My nemesis was white chocolate...I gave it up, switched to graham crackers. As for exercise, I got a stationary bike and a regular bike and started biking on those short errands.

Choose lean meats and fish, and if you make things with, say, ground beef or sausages, drain the meat in paper towels AND THEN RINSE IT IN WATER before returning it to the pan for more sauces.

Refined carbohydrates cause triglyceride problems, so keep sweets to a minimum if you can. Stick to fresh fruits; and if you must eat junk, switch to things like sugar-free fudgsicles.

For exercise, I now swear by THE FIRM. Yes, really. I was skeptical too; an infomercial product? Yuck. But a friend of mine started doing it and changed NOTHING in her diet -- and lost weight.

Powerwalking is good. Look at labels; you'd be surprised at how much saturated fat is in foods. Try to keep your satfat under 15mg/day.

Good luck! You CAN do this without taking statins.

[FDRLincoln]

34. maybe

Hackwriter, some people can do it without statins, but a lot can't. It all depends on the person.

I agree people should try without statins first, and his problem may be in the category where that can work. But for people with the genetic predisposition, the statins are awesome.

[onebigbadwulf]

38. Diet is everything.

You can rapidly reduce your TGs by simply changing your diet to one of lean (non-red, low fat) meats like fish and chicken with green vegetables.

Cholesterol takes a long long long time to reduce though, I'd ask my doctor to prescribe me some drugs which can kick start the reduction.


But the most important thing to remember, for the love of GOD - Do not under any circumstance eat ANY fried food! And try to kick yourself off the refined sugar.

[KurtNYC]

42. TG = sugar

If by "TGs by simply changing your diet to one of lean (non-red, low fat) meats like fish and chicken with green vegetables" you mean eliminate corn syrup, sugar and HFCS, then I agree with you.

[onebigbadwulf]

44. Um....

don't really know how to respond to that.

A lean meat and green vegetable diet has near zero carbs/sugars.

What else would I mean? :wow:

[KurtNYC]

50. Lean meat has nothing to do with triglycerides

TGs are primarily from alcohol. Eating lean meat won't move the number. Cutting back alcohol will.

"Refined sugar" is used far less than HFCS so again, cutting refined sugar while leaving HFCS in would do little.

:wow: yourself

[nickinSTL]

47. refined sugar

This is my real problem.

I love Dr. Pepper. I've cut down to 1 can a day (plus sometimes a can/bottle of Pepsi Edge) but I can't quite eliminate it.

It doesn't help that I don't like just plain water.

I don't eat a lot of red meat, mostly chicken and tofu. Changed to whole wheat bread, eat a high-fiber cereal with flax, and have tried hard to eliminate all trans-fat.

And I try to get in a walk every day.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

39. If you exercise

vigorously for 40 min, 3x a week that will help.Also, watch your trans-fat(Margarine, shortening, etc0,) You know the food has trans-fat if one of the ingredients is hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated oil.You should also reduce your saturated fat intake. If your numbers don't go down after following this routine, the doctor will probably prescribe medicine. Good luck!

[bearfan454]

43. Lipitor 10 mg

Brought me down from 262 to 189. It works.

[r_u_stuck2]

45. You can change your levi's

You can change your levi's but you can't change your gene's.

Triglycerides can be lowered but not on a diet you can sustain.

Lipitor worked wonders for me.

I went on a diet and lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks. I ate grape nuts with skim milk for breakfast every day. Salad for lunch and dinner with vinegar only. Two cans of tuna a week.

Dropped cholesterol 10 points, triglycerides fell out the bottom. But I couldn't live on that forever. Niacin flushed me so badly that people wanted to call and ambulance to come get me. Itching was horrible.

Lipitor dropped me down to 159 total cholesterol from 239.

Watch your diet but don't expect miracles.

[tlcandie]

46. I've been taking cholesterol meds for a while now ...

Lipitor was prescribed, but the insurance would only cover Zocor.. so taking that. My doctor said Lipitor is the best though :/

Additionally, about 1 1/2 months ago, my doctor put me on Zetia because the tris or LDLs wouldn't raise. Insurance doesn't cover that and there is no other substitute or generic brand :/ So, I went to a Canadian drug place and ordered it for $50 per month (3 month minimal order) versus $80 per month at my US pharmacist.

If you go to Canadian place, be sure to have the ORIGINAL script! Much easier!

Good luck to you! BTW, I've not experienced anything positive or negative regarding taking the meds. I do have blood work done regularly though via the doctor's orders! I will work on more omega 3s as I do try to include those now!

:hi:

[MissMillie]

48. My last tests said 154

And my doctor says I'll live forever w/ cholesterol like that.