am in the UK so the measurement system is different (mmol)
My TChol is 3.17. HDL is .99 and the ratio is 3.2. However, no LDL was done. I am told by my GP that there's no problem. Everything is fine and there's no need for a LDL test.
What do you think? Isn't the HDL a bit low?
I am male aged 68.
Hubby has had a few chest pains, so we went to the GP where he had an ECG, all pretty normal but we got referred to the hospital anyway, where hubby had another ECG, blood test and we were told that he may have Angina also his Cholesterol levels were high? i am puzzled as to why, we eat a healthy diet, we eat lean proteins, no fats, fruit and veg, we never eat fast foods and all our foods are home cooking and no fats, hubby doesn't drink or smoke, so why? we can't eat any better also he can't exercise as he has chronic Degenerative disc problems which makes him very immobile!!!! so can anyone tell me ,what i do now, how can i lower the cholesterol levels, hubby is a bit overweight but only due to his back problem, not food! he has to go for an Angiogram in a few weeks.
View 3 RepliesI have hypothyroid and am taking 175 mcg of thyroxine everyday. I eat low fat diet and exercise regularly. But still my cholesterol levels are rising especially triglycerides.
Is there a connection between them? My blood reports show that my thyroid levels are normal with the current medication. Then why is my Cholesterol increasing?
What measures should I take to stop this?
my cholesterol is fine but been to ae the nurse and she told me i have to take atorvastatin?
View 3 RepliesI understand that most Gps try to convince us that our cholesterol levels should be below 5. Does anyone/ has anyone come across facts/ studies that give a clearer idea what range is healthy/safe?
View 47 RepliesAfter a heart attack in May I was prescribed, amongst other things, 40 mgs of atorvastatin daily as a precaution. My consultant cut it down to 20mgs in September as cholesterol levels seemed fine and I have no further appointments to see the consultant. Latest blood test showed my cholesterol level at 5 which my GP said would be fine for most but, as I've had a heart attack, he'd like my level to be 4 and he's put me back on 40mgs of atorvastatin. He'll do another blood test in a month or two.
Obviously one heart attack was ample and I don't want another and my GP is great so generally trusting what he says but...was a bit upset to return to 40mgs.
Has anyone experienced up and down dosages with statins or have a view on my recent experience. It goes without saying that I do my best to maintain a healthy lifestyle, watch what I eat and all that jazz.
I found out I had a B12 deficiency 5 years ago. My levels were very dangerously low at the cellular/functional level. I was told I was near paralysis. Now, after 5 years, they are still low. They have come up to almost borderline, but it still flags red on my tests. My serum levels though are too high for the lab to measure! Its just not getting into my cells so it's not able to be used. I do twice a week injections plus twice a month IV B12 and still it has taken my body 5 years just to go up a little bit. I feel the effects of the shot for about 15 hours barely then I just feel awful again, thankfully it's prescribed every 2 days. But I don't want to do it every 2 days forever!
In the beginning I was told it would take a month or two to get my body back to normal and then just a shot every few months for maintenance. My drs have not only increased my dose but also the frequency and STILL after all these years I'm deficient.
Why are my T4 levels and Cortisol levels low?
I have been having symptoms of depression, fatigue, low libido and weight gain over the last few years. I am 50 and have gone through menopause. My latest lab results are:
TSH 1.064 (0.358-3.74)
Free T4 9.7 (9.8-18.8)
ferritin 16 (3-105)
B12 498 (156-672)
Cortisol 28 (155-570)
RBC's normal
I am not taking any thyroid meds......only nexium and Cymbalta.
What do these results mean? Can someone give me some insight into the results please?
I had a general health check at doctors yesterday. Am a 41 year old male and am taking co-codamol painkillers and amitriptyline on regular basis for back/nerve pain. Try to be physically active when I can but have real issues with my back and legs that limits anything too physical or for any length of time, but in general I manage at least 30 mins of some kind of physical activity each day. My diet isn't brilliant but it isn't terrible either (can be improved I'm sure).
6ft tall, waist measured yesterday at 38" and I'm just under 80 kg in weight.
My health check said my blood pressure was good, and that my pulse was nice and steady but also that my good cholesterol was above average (over 1.5) but that my bad cholesterol was not where it needs to be at 7.2.
The bad reading has freaked me out a bit. I've never had a cholesterol test before so cannot compare reading to a historic level but nurse has requested me to have a further blood test and probably a chat with doctor.
So, question is does having an above average level of good cholesterol and good blood pressure help manage the higher levels of bad cholesterol? My overall risk of having some kind of cardiac issue in next ten years came out at 1.49% which seems fairly low, but I forgot to ask how low you can get this % ie a risk of 0.01%?
I can try to up my physical activity a little bit but how dramatic would you change your diet based on above? I have lost two relatives to heart disease on my father's side of family (his sister and his father) but both parents appear to be fine although not aware they have ever had their own cholesterol tested.
I'm going to try and lose a few kg in weight which I'm sure will help but any advice in how to better manage my bad cholesterol appreciated.
For several years I took Simvastatin lowest dose (cut in HALF) and had good cholesterol numbers that satisfied the internist. That doc retired and new internist did a CPK test last year (my first one ever) and found it elevated to 243 so stopped the statin due to fears of muscle damage.
A year later (last week) the retested CPK, after taking NO statin for a year, was 303 and chol. numbers were back up (see below)!! So, doc says go ahead and take atorvastatin because there is a percentage of people who have high CPK with no other apparent problem. He said atorvastatin is more effective re chol. lowering than simvastatin which I'd had years ago. Is that so?
I am female, 64 years old and at age 55 had a calcium scan of the heart which showed ZERO calcium score. This was because I had similar TC numbers to current numbers and one doc (a cardiologist!) said 'have the scan' -- "find out if you need a statin." When he saw the ZERO calcium score for someone 55 he laughed and said I did not need a statin.
Years later, however, this new internist/gerontologist says that's fine but that is just the hardened cholesterol seen in the zero score, not the 'soft,' which is what travels and causes heart attacks and stroke. Great! Money spent for nothing on the test! Guess I need to educate the cardiologist?
My current chol. numbers before re-starting a statin last week were: Total Chol: 251; HDL: 77; LDL: 157; and Trigs: 87. Ratio is 3.26 -- Doc says he does 'not like' the 157 LDL.
So... a week ago I started on atorvastatin at a super low dose (I cut the 10 mg. pills into quarters so 2.5 per day. I have read in multiple places that it's stronger than simvastatin so wanted to start LOW and research shows that 2.5 is often enough to bring numbers to reasonable levels. I am not aiming to have the world's lowest cholesterol.
Last night and today I developed sharp pains in upper mid section and read the 'side effects' -- sure enough -- it's a possibility. Have also experienced increase in heartburn since taking these pills for a week. Started almost immediately. Is there a connection?
NOTE: Gallbladder removed in '04, before ever starting on any statin at all -- I'm one of the many who still has occasional GB related pains, likely from sphincter of oddi problems (sludge or stones formed by liver). It is called SOD III and it's not uncommon and since it's not a frequent occurrence, there is nothing to do about it per gastro doc. I have not had an episode in three+ years until last night/today, though this was mild.
Any relation to start-up of atorvastatin and these pains? Who knows? I would prefer taking NO statins since they are known to raise glucose a little and can bring on Diabetes type 2. My fasting glucose is high normal already at 98 and type II runs in my family at older ages. Swell.
What do YOU experts think of this? Would you be concerned about taking atorvastatin (or switching to simvastatin, which I took with no obvious problems for a few years?) Or would you just say forget the statins and live your life and don't worry about it? There is NO history of heart attack in anyone on either side of my family before age 80 and no 'strokes' at all.
I am worried I have low testosterone levels. I am 16, and have a very high-pitched voice, hourglass figure, little body hair, little pubic hair, little underarm hair and very little muscle.
I am really worried, as this will affect me long-term and it is really embarrassing.
I know many people might say "maybe you're gay" but i don't think deep down i am.
My husband & I are so upset over his testosterone level and the way kaiser permanente is treating him! his t is 232. he is 46 years old. he is brain fogged, fatigued, erectile dysfunction ed. ect, kaiser told him his blood test for t is normal at 232. we were previously with bcbs and they told him he was extremely low. our personal research shows the range to be 300 to 1000 and that his level of 232 would equate to a man of the age 85 to 100. today he followed up with an endo through kaiser again. the doc said it was normal again. when he told the doctor that it was normal for a man that is 85 years old. the doctor said well, we don't go by age, and the normal range is 175 to 720. so my husband said to the doc that are you telling me that a 25 year old can have the same level as an 85 year old and you think that's okay?? so absurd. the doc said yes as long as it's in that range. oh my God, he is an idiot! the doc said we go by the lab. we called the lab and they said that they send the testosterone out to a kaiser lab called regional. is that legal. i know they just don't want to pay for it. what can we do?
View 4 RepliesI've recently taken a blood test and my testosterone levels seem pretty low (total 382 ng/dL, free 8.3pg/mL), DHEA levels are 505.7ug/dL.
I'm 28 and I've been having issues with sleep for most of my 20's and teens. I've also been experiencing some minimal gynecomastia (for several years) and general exhaustion. I don't come from a hairy family but have noticed, it can take several weeks before I need to shave.
My other blood and urine tests came back within normal ranges and I've been wondering....am I suffering from Low T?
I'm a 30 year old pretty healthy female. I don't drink or do drugs. I do have ulcerative colitis..
OK. On the 9th of this month I started bleeding pretty heavy. According to my LMP I was about 8 weeks pregnant. I went to ER and my HCG levels were at 6400. And there was a yolk sac and fetus measured in at 5 weeks. So they said it was too soon to see heart beat. I knew something was wrong then BC I had positive pregnancy tests 5 weeks prior to this....
OK so I had my HCG levels checked on the 12th.
They were at 5000. And ultrasound for sure showed no heartbeat. Miscarriage was confirmed
Had to go back to ER on the 17th due to severe pain and bleeding. Ultra sound showed no yolk sack this time. Just products of conception. And my HCG LEVEL WAS 2000... They gave me the mitro whatever pill (4 in my cheeks) to speed things up. They gave me the choice of a d & c or the pill...
HAD HCG RECHECKED ON THE 21ST AND THEY WERE 1099....
TODAY, THE 23RD, I started almost passing out every time I stand up. Boyfriend made me go back to the er. Ultrasound showed complex material left in there. Fluid and solid mass. They suspect it was a blood clot. BUT MY HCG LEVEL WAS 1600 TODAY!!!!
I know I'm not pregnant so why oh why are my HCC levels now going back up. They sent me home from the er and tell me things are fine. Fine? No. I'm almost passing out, and have been bleeding since the 9th... And these are no cramps. It is severe pain!!! Please give me some insight as to why they are going back up..
Just got my results after 6 months on atorvastatin:
Total cholesterol; 129 (down from 185)
LDL: 66 (Down from 117)
HDL: 40 (down from 44)
Triglycerides - 96
My cardiologist is very happy with these numbers, but I'm wondering if they could get too low. My total has never been below 150 until now.
I'm a 42-year old male in good health but with a family history of heart disease and borderline high BP.
I've been on.Cit for nearly three weeks now (second course) my anxiety has dropped to a level where I am happy. But as part time hobby I do a lot of weight lifting... But as the past three weeks have gone by my energy levels have dropped. My recovery time has droppeD. The.only thing I can think of off is lower testosterone
View 10 RepliesMy cholesterol is 263 with Triglycerides 102, HDL 65 and LDL 180. What can I do to lower my bad numbers.
View 2 RepliesI am 21 years of age having a height of 6'1" and weigh 85 kilos. My cholesterol level is 245 with LDL 154 and HDL 51 and Triglycerides 209. Is there any way I can reduce all this and lead a normal life?
View 2 Replieshave just had a telephone consult with my gp he tells me my cholesterol is 5.63 good and bad chol 3.69 can anyone tell me what this means? is it high - he wants me to go on statins and i am already on warfarin.
View 3 RepliesI am a 17 year old teenage male. I am not overweight (I'm 5"8 and like 145 pounds which is around average for my height) but my doctor apparently told my parents that I have a high cholesterol level of around 140 which has gotten my parents pretty freaked out. However, my parents tend to freak out about alot of things, so I just wanted to know if I'm really high for someone my age and weight, and if this means I'm at high risk of a heart attack. Does anyone know how cholesterol works for teenagers?
View 3 RepliesHad a blood test for this the other week and got my results back. It's says 200 but next to it says (180-900). Is mine low and need medical attention.
View 1 Replies