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-   -   Cholesterol and understanding its numbers? (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=89205)

Jackie K. Mon, Oct-15-01 19:53

Cholesterol and understanding its numbers?
 
Moderators Note: This information is from two threads with questions on understanding cholesterol readings.

Help!
I've been having the hardest time for the past two months. I went to a dermotolgist because my hair has been falling out. And when I went in for my annual check up my cholesterol is high. I don't really know what to do? And trying to understanding the numbers and their definitions for the HDL and LDL.
HDL=240
LDL=158
Triglycerides=91
Ratio for HDL=3.8

My blood pressure is always low ie. 100/70
And all I have been craving is sweet things. I am having a hard time getting back on the low carb and if I should try to help in modifying it to lower my HDL.

Atriana Tue, Oct-16-01 06:45

Jacki - I think you've got a typo there, (HDL 240).

doreen T Tue, Oct-16-01 12:31

hi Jacki ..

As Atriana says, I think you misquoted the HDL .. I suspect the number listed is the TOTAL cholesterol. HDL is typically a much smaller number, around 40 + or -, preferably + ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TYPES OF CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol travels in the blood in packages called lipoproteins.
  • Cholesterol packaged in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is often called "bad" cholesterol, because too much LDL in blood can lead to cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries.

    Another type of cholesterol, which is packaged in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is known as "good" cholesterol. That is because HDL helps remove cholesterol from the blood, preventing it from piling up in the arteries. The higher your HDL, the less your risk of coronary heart disease.
CHOLESTEROL LEVELS & RISK
  • Desirable: Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L), LDL below 130 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L), HDL over 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) -- over 60 (1.55) is protective against heart disease.

    Moderate risk: Total cholesterol 200-240 (5.2-6.2), LDL 130-159 (3.4-4.1), HDL below 40 (1.03)

    High risk: Total cholesterol over 240 (6.2), LDL over 159 (4.1), HDL below 35 (0.9)
TRIGLYCERIDES

Triglycerides are a type of lipid that circulate in the bloodstream and are essential for good health. They are produced in the liver from fats and carbohydrates.

Factors that contribute to high triglycerides include obesity and overweight, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol intake, high-carbohydrate diets, several diseases (including type 2 diabetes, chronic renal failure, and nephrotic syndrome), some drugs (such as corticosteroids, estrogens, retinoids, and high doses of beta blockers), and certain genetic disorders.

Triglyceride levels below 200 mg/dL (2.3 mmol/L) is normal. Higher levels are considered a risk factor for heart disease.

HDL RATIOS

A very convenient way of expressing your risk of heart disease which takes into account both the total (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol is the ratio between the two. If this is under 4.5, you don't need to worry, although a 'perfect' score would be under 3.5. So if your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dl and your HDL 50 mg/dl, your ratio is 4, and you're OK. But if your total is 200 and your HDL 35, your ratio is 5.7, and you may have a problem.

The ratio is sometimes expressed as the LDL/HDL ratio, in which case the cutoff points would be different. It's actually no better than the cholesterol/HDL ratio in terms of predicting who's at risk, and more expensive to perform.

Chol/HDL: below 3.0 low, 3.0-3.6 average, 3.7-4.6 moderate, over 4.6 high

LDL/HDL: below 2.3 low, 2.3-4.1 average, 4.1-5.6 moderate, over 5.6 high

DivaDani Fri, Feb-08-02 13:46

New Lipid Results - Questions
 
I've been eating LC since Oct. 2001 and I got a lipid profile done the week before I started. I just got another one done last week and the results were not what I was hoping for. I think the results were ultimately good even though my cholesterol went up, but if anyone can give me a little advice on what they really mean I'd appreciate it.
:( I'm a little bummed - I was hoping to be another poster child for LC and lowering cholesterol.

****************Oct. 3, 2001_______Feb. 1, 2002
Cholesterol_______235______________236
HDL_____________81_______________90
LDL_____________136______________130
Calc'd Risk Ratio___1.68______________1.44
Triglycerides______89_______________81

(Both times I fasted for 10-12 hours before testing, even though the MD told me 8 would be enough. I include flaxoil in my menu every day, have eggs 1 or 2 times/week, and break even between red meat and fish/poultry/soy protein consumption - if this makes any difference.)

doreen T Fri, Feb-08-02 14:02

DANI!!!! :thup:

Congrats to you!! Your HDL is 90, that is awesome. That's the "good" cholesterol, and highly desirable and very protective to be over 50.

Triglycerides below 200 are good, below 100 is perfect.

Check out this thread for what the results mean http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...&threadid=23587

Hugs to you, and keep up the good work. :rheart:

Doreen

Natrushka Fri, Feb-08-02 14:04

Dani, your results are good. You didnt have terribly high cholesterol to begin with - it was a little high, but keep in mind that high cholesterol on its own is NOT indicative of coronary disease. What is important is that your HDL went up (great HDL), your LDL went down and so did your triglycerides.

Have a look at what the Eades say about cholesterol results similar to yours.

Also, take a look at what Doreen had to say about cholesterol and levels last week - there's a lot of good information in there.

Nat

Natrushka Fri, Feb-08-02 14:07

Quote:
Originally posted by Natrushka
Also, take a look at what Doreen had to say about cholesterol and levels last week - there's a lot of good information in there.


*lol* or you could just read her post!

N

Karen Fri, Feb-08-02 14:09

This is from Protein Power, which I think is a must read for anyone interested really good explanations on why low-carbing works to cure a host of ailments.

"Medical researchers have investigated and compared the rates of heart disease development to the levels of the individual lipoproteins. You shouldn't be surprised to learn that the higher the level of LDL, the greater the risk of heart disease, and the higher the HDL, the lower the risk. What if both are high or both low? Just such situations do occur, so we prefer to look more closely at the ratio of the two, rather than at each one individually. Two benchmark standards have been established.

1. Total cholesterol divided by HDL should be below 4.
2. LDL divided by HDL should be below 3."

So, how does it look? ;)

Karen

Karen Fri, Feb-08-02 14:12

LOL Nat and Doreen! We were posting the same thing at the same time!

Karen

DivaDani Fri, Feb-08-02 14:58

Quick, simultaneous replies
 
You must have all been posting at the same time. I got an alert and by the time I checked the post there were 5 replies! Thanks for all the info. - I feel much better now :)

I realize that my cholesterol wasn't too high to begin with, but it and my overweight are really my only health problems. I think that's why I was so concerned that the numbers hadn't diminished more. But, no whining. :nono: I'm now quite happy with my results. Thank you!

Natrushka Fri, Feb-08-02 15:04

Dani, seems like you've got a handle on both the weight and the cholesterol :thup: something to be pleased with indeed.

Nat

Chrissy Sun, Mar-31-02 00:08

Chrissy's Cholesterol
 
I got my results back from my blood work from Feb 4/02.
Couldn't understand the numbers over the phone, so I went in and got a photo copy of my results.

I just wish I would of got my tests done before I started Atkins. Oh well, my doc said what ever your doing, keep it up.


Triglycerides 1.01
Cholesterol 4.57
HDL 1.00
LDL 3.11

Other major test:

Glucose-Fast 4.3
Hemoglobin .42
Ketones 3+

I never knew what my blood type I was either, so I got that done too..... I am O negative, and according to this group, high protein, low carb is the best diet to go on.......by nature I'm a hunter!

My Thyroid was low though, and I've been on a perscripton (Eltroxin) for the last 2 months now and I just had a new test done last week, will find out if I need to be upped or lowered on meds. I don't feel cold no more, although, I can't say I have more energy.

For the newbies who want to start the WOL, Its a real good idea as Dr. Atkins suggested in his book to get your blood work done first. Its well worth your health and its good to keep track of!

Take care :wave:

doreen T Sun, Mar-31-02 10:19

Those are great numbers Chrissy!

Hemoglobin 0.4? That's a typo, right?? ;) Normal hemoglobin for woman is 12 - 16.

Keep up the good work .. hope your thyroid problems get sorted out.

Doreen

Chrissy Sun, Mar-31-02 15:01

Oops, yes it's a typo error Doreen, however my Hemoglobin says 137?
The hematocrit was .42, what ever that means LOL :daze:

doreen T Sun, Mar-31-02 15:15

LOL .. typo for me too Chrissy ! :daze:

I was looking at my nursing text of lab values, and there are two columns .. one for USA measurements, and one for everywhere else in the world, which is SI units (Système Internationale) I copied from the wrong column. Duh!

Just add some zeros there .. so normal Hgb would be 120 to 160. Yers is perfecto :thup:

Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood that's made up of red blood cells. (Red blood cells carry the hemoglobin). In the US, it's actually expressed as a percentage, so normal for a woman is 36 to 46%. In SI units, they express it as a decimal, so normal is 0.36 to 0.46. Once again, yers is perfect. ;)

Doreen


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