Bad News!

[EmmaA40]

Had my 40yr old health check routine bloods yesterday & the GP has rang already stating I have high cholesterol! Should I be worried, or just do the obvious thing & watch what I eat, exercise etc?

[ITYFIALMCTT]

Your GP may well advise you if lifestyle changes are appropriate. However, it would probably be helpful if your GP mentioned to you what number is meant by 'high' and the breakdown (i.e., the HDL, LDL, triglyceride numbers). 

All sorts of things can cause temporary increases in cholesterol. Your GP might keep a watchful eye or suggest that you have a fasting cholesterol test for further information (NB, if a test is taken after a meal then that might artificially inflate your triglyceride number and therefore your overall total cholesterol number).

I hope that your GP has some useful advice and reassurance for you.

[sandybrown in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

Would it be possible to offer  more explanation on " Cholesterol testing soon after a meal, fasting  cholesterol testing and the relationship between high triglyceride and   total cholesterol?"

[Andyman]

You should do the "obvious thing" anyway. What were your figures?

[kasibarndoor]

The important thing  to do in my opinion, is to look at your lifestyle, look at your diet, look at your family history, look at the numbers (what is "high cholesterol").  Having done this is there any changes you can make easily which may improve the situation? e.g. exercise, diet, stress, etc.  Having got the numbers you could make any lifestyle changes you feel you can achieve and sustain, and 3 months later look at the numbers again. 

[EmmaA40]

Thank you for your replies all. I'm a reasonably fit & healthy person, have a sedatory job but get out 2 or 3 times a day for walks with our American Akita! I'm constantly on the go, being a full time working Mum so stress is a factor but family history isn't. Also, diet as no way do I have my 5 a day, but then does anyone, really? Have an appointment with my GP next week, so I'll discuss it all then in more detail & ask for a review after a while of changing diet. Just a simple thing, but it's a start in buying brown bread yesterday! Figures are 5.3 & 3.5 so not massively high at all.

[sandybrown in reply to EmmaA40]

Please write down all your questions for your GP.

You need to know the following numbers, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL.

There are other numbers as well, like ratio

Some numbers are measured from blood and some numbers are calculated. Therefore please ask for full explanation.

The other question to ask is "do I need to do a fasting cholesterol blood test?" This has been mentioned in an earlier reply.

When an equation is used for calculation  one number can affect the result of another number.

[Penel]

if your blood pressure and weight are ok, a high cholesterol reading may not be anything to worry about and changing your diet may be enough. Try cutting out sugary food and drink (it's not just fat that may affect your numbers) and go for the high fibre foods, like porridge for breakfast. 

Aiming for 5 a day is a good place to start, but make it mostly vegetables.

[sandybrown]

you can control your cholesterol with food and drinks intake control, only eating up to 80% full!

Regular exercise also necessary to maintain cholesterol and weight. Try life style change first before considering any medication option.

[wottos]

Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels are not important. The Important measures and the best indicators of overall health are the triglycerides (trigs) and HDL cholesterol numbers. On UK measures you want HDL to be as high as possible (over 1) and Trigs to be as low as possible (less than 2). LDL and HDL combine to get to the total cholesterol number. Trigs are not part of total cholesterol.

HDL is a 4-fold better indicator of heart disease risk than LDL and the higher the better!

But please remember there is no proof that cholesterol (regardless of form) or triglycerides actually cause or prevent anything. These are all just indicators or correlations with overall health.

Also, if you are a woman (judging by your user name, you are), the higher your cholesterol the longer you live. Again, just a correlation, but an interesting one nonetheless.

A good book on cholesterol is "Cholesterol Clarity" by Jimmy Moore.

Best

Steve

[Queeniescakes in reply to wottos]

My cholesterol last time I checked (about a month ago) was 'high', my total was 7.97, LDL 5.1 BUT my HDL was 2.28 & trig 1.34, making my ratios excellent, so I worry not. Statins turned me into a vegetable - I could barely string a sentence together or remember my name! No thanks!

[EmmaA40]

Thanks for all your kind & brilliant help & advice guys. They're not overly worried about the levels (5.3 serum cholesterol, 1.76 triglycerides, 1 HDL, total HDL ratio 5.3, calc LDL cholesterol level 3.5), had the review the nurse last week.

Added more fruit, brown bread, rice, cut out unhealthy snacks & eating less, more dog walks, lol. The obvious!

Having to got for a full blood count next week though for B12 deficiency (Pernicious anemia). At least all this can be controlled by various factors.

Thanks again, Emma!

[Hidden]

Hi Emma

I wouldn't worry about those levels at all and they're not high!

Ignore your GP. If you're worried about your heart health, exercise and eat well.