Cholesterol Blood Test

[RayH2]

Hi, can anyone advise on blood test results for cholesterol and what they mean?

On 28 April I had the following.

Serum Cholesterol 3.7 mmol/L

Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.38 mmol/L

Serum triglycerides 1.1 mmol/L

Serum LDL cholesterol level 1.82 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 2.7

SE non HDL cholesterol level 2.3mmol/L

This was a non-fasting test and although I don't think my cholesterol is very high I am advised that as I have AF it should be as low as possible.

I would be grateful for any comments.

regards

Ray

[Tibblington]

Hello Ray. Before you go any further with your investigation I recommend that you read the latest information published in the British Medical Journal in the last few days. Go to: bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/... I think you will be very surprised. Tibbly

[DakCB-UK in reply to Tibblington]

Actually, the British Journal of Sports Medicine, not the main BMJ.

In short: Dr Malhotra publishes another paper against saturated fat control. Is this news?

I don't really understand how it's sports medicine, but the full text seems to be behind a paywall.

[Tibblington in reply to DakCB-UK]

It is the sports magazine as part of the BMJ publications. It makes little difference to the content and the information whether you are a sports person or any other. What they are saying is all that advice to reduce saturated fat was wrong. We never took any notice of it, it was O.K. 100 years ago why should it be any different now?

[arty_sax in reply to Tibblington]

This is not the BMJ.... but a sports science magazine..... quite different in so far that articles are produced from a scientific.... NOT a medical perpsective. Data is all important for medicine.... and the data informs from trials and results.... the current medical outlook / treatments.

Not to say either is right or wrong.... but it is a dilemma.... ALWAYS seek advice from a medical practioner!!

[RayH2]

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me I have added the range figures in brackets.

On 28 April I had the following.

Serum Cholesterol 3.7 mmol/L (0 - 5.0)

Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.38 mmol/L (1.00 - 9999)

Serum triglycerides 1.1 mmol/L (0 - 1.69)

Serum LDL cholesterol level 1.82 mmol/L

(

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 2.7

SE non HDL cholesterol level 2.3mmol/L

This was a non-fasting test and although I don't think my cholesterol is very high I am advised that as I have AF it should be as low as possible.

I would be grateful for any comments.

regards

Ray

[DakCB-UK in reply to RayH2]

For the general population, all values within the reference ranges would be interpreted as meaning everything is fine. The lipid hypothesis is usually translated as meaning that you want HDL over 1.0, trigs under 1.7, total under 5.5 and ratio around 2 I think.

BUT! I don't know about AF and there is a minority who disagree with the lipid hypothesis and consider these targets irrelevant.

[RayH2 in reply to DakCB-UK]

Thanks for your reply and to everyone else who has provided advice. There is a lot to take in as I haven't used this website very much.

[sos007 Ambassador]

Overall your results are excellent. Your LDL level is optimal. Are you on a statin medication like Crestor or Lipitor?

Optimally, your HDL-C should be 1.6 mmol/l or greater. This is the so called 'good' cholesterol which initiates removal of the 'bad' LDL cholesterol.

You can raise your HDL through exercise and consumption of blueberries, apples, nuts, beans, lentils, chick peas, and olive oil among other things.

Triglycerides are acceptable, but optimally should be 0.79 or less. You can reduce these through a reduction in your consumption of sugars and simple carbohydrates such as bread, rice, pizza and pasta, as well as soft drinks, alcohol and fruit juices.

Good luck.

[RayH2 in reply to sos007]

Thanks for your advice and for all the replies I have received from everyone. I was on 40mg Simvastatin for 3 years until June 2015 when I changed to 10mg of Atorvastatin because of calf muscle pain and cramps. These started again in January this year and I then had upper leg muscle weakness so I changed to Pravastatin. As the problems got worse my GP advised to stop statins completely and I have been off them since end of January. In response to Londinium I am on 150mg levothyroxine for under active thyroid which can also cause muscle problems I understand.

I think my muscle problems are caused by statins as I have had numerous other tests which have been negative.

I guess at least my cholesterol isn't too bad but unfortunately I can't walk because of the leg muscle problems. It is hard to get any real answers from the medical profession.

thanks

Ray

[sos007 Ambassador in reply to RayH2]

Well if this is your blood-work without statins, I would say you are doing quite well from a lipid perspective. There are various ways to boost your thyroid function naturally. I suggest you try a web search on the topic.

[Tibblington in reply to RayH2]

Was it worth all the ghastly side effects?

[sandybrown in reply to Tibblington]

Please explain !

[RayH2 in reply to Tibblington]

Well, I certainly wish I had not taken Statins but supposedly most people take them without side effects?!

At the moment I feel that they have made me very unhealthy as I can't take any real exercise. So the opposite effect to what my GP intended.

I can only hope that things improve.

Enzyme Q10 supplement has been suggested but have been tested for creatine kinase levels and these were found to be normal and someone told me these were connected but I'm not sure?

[Tibblington in reply to RayH2]

Hello RayH2. The medical profession have been persuaded by the drug companies that statins are the wonder drug, You only have to read what the more informed members of the medical profession have to say. Have a look at: healthscams.org.uk/are-stat... and the following page about vested interests. I despair! A professor once said, "They are taught to pass and not to know and the result is that they do pass and they don't know". Some of the medical profession seem incapable of working things out for themselves; they qualify and at that point they stop learning. We didn't have all these tests 50 - 60 years ago when we were a lot more healthy and not always worried about our health. I'm old enough to remember. Just get back to basic food. Tibbly

[RayH2]

Hi Londinium,

Thanks for all of your very helpful information that you have sent. I am going to take some time to look through everything and get back to you.

I very much feel that you are right about it being wrong to give me statins but to be fair I'm sure that many people do benefit from them.

I hope your own health is good and that you haven't had the same problems with statins!

thanks

Ray

[RayH2]

Hi,

I'm just trying to give a balanced view but for the avoidance of doubt my personal opinion is that statins are the cause of the very serious problems that I have.

I think that there should be much more publicity over the side effects of statins and I think that it was wrong to give them to me.

I have read a lot about statins being the cause of calf muscle problems but would be very interested in anyone having severe muscle weakness in the upper legs.

The worrying thing about statins is that they are given out too freely and it may be that it will be some years down the line before we become aware of the serious problems caused.

[Tibblington]

Londinium. I sympathise with your point of view. I have repeated links etc many times and feel that i have done it enough. It's a pity that there's not a central information page that Zest can manage so new-comers can go there first and so avoid lengthy repeat correspondence. Tibbly

[Scooterpye]

I had serious neurological side effects when I was on statins, and after trying about six different ones I finally just had to stop taking them. For the past year I have been injecting myself with a PCSK9 Inhibitor. I don't notice any side effects at all. It definitely lowers my cholesterol. I only hope that it is actually helping to prevent or retard my development of cardiovascular disease.

[Scooterpye]

My total cholesterol was around 370, with LDL at 300. Now I am taking both a pcsk9 inhibitor and Zetia. My total is 150 and LDL is 90.

[Scooterpye]

onlineconversion.com/choles...

[sandybrown in reply to Scooterpye]

Both of you cholesterol numbers have come down by more than 50%, do watch the cholesterol numbers as the human body needs cholesterol to function properly!!