I decided to come off my statin, just to see what the numbers might be and to spice up my next visit to lipid clinic. Results below, with brackets giving received wisdom/guidance:
TOTAL 8.4 (V Bad)
HDL 3.4 (V Good)
LDL 4.6 (V Bad)
TRI 0.8 (V Good)
TOTAL/HDL Ratio 2.4 (V Good)
I'm 46. Non smoker. Compulsive exerciser. Not overweight.
Any opinions?
I should have said, I'm torn. I don't want to take statin. The numbers have at least two interpretations
1. LDL is v high so must take statin
2. HDL is v high and this counteracts LDL, so ignore concerning numbers
My readings are similar although not as high my total is 6.9 HDL ratio 3.14. I have never taken statins and don't expect my total to reduce as eat lots of oily fish avocados etc but hoping to lower my LDLs. I hv never smoked exercise daily not overweight. I try to follow all the guidelines but still allow myself occasional steak!! Think it's your decision you are lot younger than me I'm in my sixties! Good luck
I've always had fairly good cholesterol readings over very many years but this has not prevented my atherosclerosis and carotid artery readings 80% and 55% blockages. I am fairly old but it still means the progression goes on regardless of taking medication against it, and other drugs as well as statins.
I agree. I took statins for 10 years but it didn't stop the atherosclerosis progresssing from mild when I stated taking them 10 years ago to suddenly needing a bypass 10 years later. My cholesterol was always lower that 5 and I honestly don't think statins did me any good at all. Now 2 years after my bypass and having changed my diet drastically and lost 10kg, I have now decided to stop stains ( 4 months ago) and try and control my cholesterol by diet alone. My blood test last month was TC of 5.3 which I thought was reasonable. I am still refining what I eat (mostly plant based) and will retest in another couple of months. I do a private blood test as it gives you so much more useful readings.
The atherosclerotic process is like the aging process to some degree. the process will occur, it's just a matter of in what amount of time (atherosclerosis) and how well we do it (age).
Did you discuss your general health with your GP? you can ask your GP for a JBS2 risk analysis, and explain the results fully and vary some numbers that are considered bad to see how lowering can help with the risk analysis.
A simple indication is the waist to height ratio as there is only one variable the waist measurement. Google has a lot of information on this.
Thanks all.
My waist has never been above 32 inches and is currently at 30 inches. I'm 5 feet 10 inches in height, so I'm pretty sure this ratio is fine.
Interesting to hear about atherosclerosis decline. I didn't realise that this could be measured. I'll look into getting a test done.
I've been wondering about getting an LDL particle test done - 'small dense LDL bad/ large bouyant LDL good' and will ask at next lipid clinic how to get this test. I'm presuming I'd have to pay.
I've been taking statins for 5 years prior to this experiment. Lowest total figure I achieved on statins was 5.8 and LDL came down to 2.3 and HDL also reduced to 3.1. Much 'better' figures but at what long term cost from taking statins?
What unit of measurement are you using? If mmol/l these numbers are peculiar.
Yes, mmol/l. I realise my readings are perculiar, hence the post. I've worked hard on diet, exercise and rest to get HDL as high as possible.
Using your latest blood test numbers, look at the ratio for different blood test numbers, when it is a ration unit of measurement do not matter, stop worrying. Enjoy life, life style change can offer a healthy life.
According to The Ashwell chart you are in the green rage of waist to height ratio, there is little room for waist expansion!!
I remember one cardiologist saying "When I was in medical school the cholesterol numbers were a lot higher than what it is today !!"
Enjoy one life.
To help determine if you have endothelial dysfunction (CVD), you can take a blood test and have a brachial artery responsiveness test.
Have these blood tests done:
MPO - Myeloperoxidase Assay - measures level of inflammation in your arteries;
High sensitivity CRP; measures level of inflammation in your body overall;
hb-A1C - measures 3 month average blood glucose level. Normally done to determine risk of diabetes.
If you live in the U.K., contact Alpha-Seven which sells the Angiodefender medical device to clinics and hospitals. This devise does the brachial artery responsiveness test in a clinical setting. Ask them for a clinic near you. The clinic should charge about £100-150 for the test. Email wegrow@alpha-seven.com or call tel +44(0) 141 354 1588.
The test should give you an FMD% score. It will classify your risk of heart disease as low, medium or high.
The Human Genome Project blessed us with the ability to do a lot of things in the present and future, including pharmacogenomics. Pharmacogenomics is the ability to prescribe medications specifically suited for treatment of an identified disease condition, according to one's genetic/genomic testing, In the past, we looked at diagnoses such as diabetes, some cholesterols and some others are now known to be hereditary. Familial hypercholesterolemia is one. In such cases, when you have done all that "you" can do, then a statin would have to be the answer, if it is to be controlled.
When will NHS use this new technology ? Did Google, then no UK site giving out any information.
Try oat porridge with flax seed powder. Your chol. will drop somewhat. Flax seed is good. Do not heat the flax seed. WATCH THE SUGAR AND CARB INTAKE. That is more dangerous for arterial inflammation and plaque than - some experts say - than chol. Many say lowering chol. is not relevant. Manage sugar.
According to a news paper article white rice is OK to eat! What is next!
Iron from can be bad as sugar?
The effect of carbs turning into blood sugar: the time it takes to do this is a measure of its Glycemic Index. E.g. Basmati has a lower GI - which means it converts to blood sugar more slowly - like sweet potatoes, raw steel cut oats or jaggery. This gives us a chance to burn it off; but if we are just sitting or sleeping - it all turns to blood sugar anyways. White rice is much higher GI (bad) than brown. Avoid carbs and sugar.
Check your 1 hour post porridge blood sugar and then compare to say low sugar beans on toast. Prepare to be surprised
That is very interesting. I went on no drinks, 14 hours between dinner and breakfast.
I had porridge with honey for breakfast, for lunch white bread roll with butter and cheese. for dinner home cooked food.
My weight came down, HbA1c went up by 1 point!
The question do I change my breakfast to brown toast with just butter?
Thanks.
I follow a fairly low carbohydrate approach. Broadly 60% fat, 20% protein and 20% carbohydrate. All carbohydrates from low GI sources (mostly vegetables), except for the occasional nibble of chocolate. I increase proportion of carbohydrates and reduce fat on heavy training days (long bike rides) but still stick to natural sources. I've read that home made energy bars made from white rice are best when exercising as they are a resistant starch that is easily processed/absorbed. I haven't yet tried this approach. My view is that if you eat something high GI then you'd better be 'moving' in order to not spike blood sugar.
Porridge is my go to breakfast before a long cycle ride. I'm interested why you advise not heating flax seed? I tend to sprinkle in flax and pumpkin seeds plus ground linseeds.
Try getting your ApoB and ApoA-1 tests as they are probably a better indicator of atherogenic particles in your LDL-C component. If the ratio of ApoB/ApoA-1 is lower than 0.8, then there is a balance between atherogenic and anti-atherogenic particles which is acceptable.
The medical community is still learning about which measure of cholesterol is best to use as a treatment target.
You indicated that your a compulsive exerciser, that may actually be part of the problem - there's the law of diminishing marginal returns. Exercise does cause a certain amount of breakdown in the human body that requires the body to increase cholesterol production to repair cells. Perhaps you should practice some moderation in your fitness regimen.
Your TRI/HDL is considered the best indicator, yours is 0.8/3.4 = 0.23 = Excellent
TG/HDL-C ratio less than 0.87 is ideal
TG/HDL-C ratio above 1.74 is too high
TG/HDL-C ratio above 2.62 is much too high
To statin, or not to statin...creatine kinase and lp/a levels normal
Being treated for FH but no marker gene found when tested and have stopped statins