My new Cholesterol Numbers

[Happyme]

I just had the phyical done and have some numbers to share with you. Here are the years in which they checked my cholesterol with the last number being the most recent.

1998 2003 2004

Total Chlesterol 220 185 196

Triglycerides 89 91 65

HDL 51 49 57

LDL 151 118 126

CHOL/HDL 4.3 3.8 3.4
RATIO

I have not been back in to the Dr's office to talk about the numbers but plan to talk to her about them at a later date. She did send a over view of the physical and all is well and she is happy with the Triglycerides getting lower and the HDL getting higher but need to watch LDL and the total. She said that what I was doing with my diet is a good thing. One thing that I have never talked to a doctor about is the ratio. My print out does not give me guide lines on it. Can anyone clue me in?

I also received two other printouts one is labeled FSH test, and the other looks to me to be my other blood workup but is is not very explanitory. they all seem to be in range except the MPV and that is LOW. Please help. Thanks, Gail

[Coop2004]

Hi Happyme,

Well, at least your numbers are on the right track. Try to check with your doctor as soon as possible about your questions.

:hug :hug

Linda (Coop)

[Shelley4]

Hello Happyme,

Infuriatingly, my Doctor wouldn't give me all the numbers related to my cholesterol - she insisted the only thing that was important was the ratio. So it's the one thing I do know a little bit about.

Here's how I understand the ratio thing: your ratio should be between 3.5 and 5.1. If you fall in this range, it means you have an average risk of developing heart disease (I think the term I want here is cvd - cardio vascular disease, but not sure).

3.5 is considered "ideal". 5.1 is the high end of average, and you want to try bring that down. Higher than 5.1 and you may well walk out of your Drs office with an Rx for meds.

Caveat: this is from internet research - I'm not a health professional, and so stand to be corrected.

I have also seen some media lately that suggests those numbers should be lower - that the medical profession is overly tolerant of high cholesterol. The numbers measure an average, and not necessarily an ideal cholesterol level. And in a society that is on average overweight...

Two years ago, my ratio was at 4.1, and she suggested I try to bring it down from there. After 7 months on Induction (errr, more or less!), including three eggs a day, my cholesterol is 2.3. I did a snoopy dance right there in her office. She said I was one of the lucky ones - she had done Atkins herself, but it had raised her cholesterol levels.

Btw, you look fabulous! Congratulations.



Shelley
SW: 200
CW: 165
GW: Oh, I don't know. Maybe 150?

[Happyme]

Thanks for the info. That helps alot. Nobody really wanted to help me out on this. Thanks bunches. Looks like my ratio is getting better