High cholesterol? :(

[Lizzie]

Doesn't genetics have a role to play in this also? Some people are always going to have a battle with high "bad" cholesterol for that reason. That being said, my father died of a massive coronary at the age of 65 (6 years older than I am now), as did his father before him. He had very, very clogged arteries. My brothers and I (we live thousands of miles apart but apparently all decided this on our own) took this lesson to heart and all eat well and exercise. I do treat myself, in fact I just finished a macadmia toffee chocolate cake, but I've been vegan for many years and that seems to have helped. I keep getting things like "you're a cardiologist's dream" written across my blood results, which I find hilarious. Not that I should rest on my laurels since it could well be that we take after our mothers' side of the family and we'll all get cancer. Swings and roundabouts!

[Giselle]

Doesn't genetics have a role to play in this also? Some people are always going to have a battle with high "bad" cholesterol for that reason. That being said, my father died of a massive coronary at the age of 65 (6 years older than I am now), as did his father before him. He had very, very clogged arteries. My brothers and I (we live thousands of miles apart but apparently all decided this on our own) took this lesson to heart and all eat well and exercise. I do treat myself, in fact I just finished a macadmia toffee chocolate cake, but I've been vegan for many years and that seems to have helped. I keep getting things like "you're a cardiologist's dream" written across my blood results, which I find hilarious. Not that I should rest on my laurels since it could well be that we take after our mothers' side of the family and we'll all get cancer. Swings and roundabouts!

Yup. I come from a family of morbidly high cholesterol. I think my uncle's cholesterol level reading ran about 400, while my mother's was in the lower 300's upper 200's. Like it was mentioned before, a simple "229" doesn't do much for you because there is "good" cholesterol (HDL) and "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Ideally, you want more HDL and less LDL, so a blank 229 doesn't read much. If your HDL is higher than your LDL, the doctor won't put you on medication, but he probably will suggest increasing exercise and eating more whole grains.

You should examine what you eat daily because those French fries and bacon strips you get once every two weeks do start to add up, especially if you don't get enough exercise as is. My mother, in particular, made a permanent diet change when the doctor started recommending her to eat 80 mg of Lipitor. She quit eating meat, substituted her daily bowl of white rice with oatmeal, ate another bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and ate more fish and vegetables. Her blood tests came back and I believe she lowered her cholesterol somewhere in the 180's, literally *half* of her previous reading. Her LDL levels dropped while her HDL levels increased. Simple lifestyle changes like substituting that hamburger with a whole-wheat sandwich (no bacon!) can do small wonders.

[pnance]

Mine was right in that range I think 220 with my LDL covering most of that when I had it measured. The Dr. said I had 2 options, drop it on my own or I get pills the rest of my life. I'm horrible at taking anything so that meant diet. Those who said a staight number doesn't tell a whole lot are right. If you LDL covers most of it then yes you definately want to do something about it soon. If your HDL is higher it's not as bad. Fish is high in cholestrol but HDL not LDL. Yours may be higher than your husbands not because of your lunch but because of genetics. I have a friend who eats things that you wouldn't believe, fried food, dairy, etc. Everything your not supposed to and her's is around 120 (I look at fried food and mine goes off the charts.... ). That said my Dr. recommended flaxseed oil (comes in gel caps) and can be found at a vitamin store. I also cut out a lot of dairy switched from milk to soy milk, etc. My big weekness was/is ice cream, cutting that was painful. Once in a while I'll splurge but it's no longer an every day treat. I lost about 30 lbs and dropped my colestol to 160.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Last year my 16 year old daughter had it tested because she was tired all the time. It was on 369 . As she is eating healthy already, the doc said it must be something she herited from her original parents....!
She is taking pill now, and the level is down to 240 now. She will have to be careful for the ret of her life!! Good thing we had it checked!!

[beeniesmom]

Everyone:

Thank you so much for your responses.
I feel better and yes, I want to do it on my own.
Since it is not terribly high I know I can do it myself.

Annette you will be my inspiration. Yes, I am a bit overweight. I hide it well because I am tall but that is no excuse. I should do myself a favor and lose about 30 pounds.

I think genetics do play a role. My dad has a hard time keeping his bad cholesterol down. He is always on a diet.

I will have my BLT's without the B.

I don't have a problem cutting the sweets.... it's the salty things that I LOVE!

[Pam]

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this thread as just the other day I was thinking about starting one just like it myself. I thought that I might probably be the only one with cholesterol problems since so many PTers are younger than I. I didn't realize that age didn't play as big a part as I thought.

For years my cholesterol was a steady 180 and then about a year or so ago it went up and also my blood pressure, which was also normal in the past (actually low), went up to the point where I am on BP meds.

My bad (LDL) cholesterol runs almost a steady 216. My good (HDL) cholesterol is good according to the doctor but I don't remember the number. For that reason, he has asked me to try and reduce the number myself by eliminating dairy, fats, etc. I have also started taking fish oil tablets and red yeast rice. The doctor also mentioned drinking more grape juice (from red grapes) by day and having a glass of red wine at night. I am following his orders on this. I don't really have a weight issue although would be happy to lose about 10 lbs. as my clothes would fit better so I am really puzzled as to why all of this has just begun in just the last year or so.

There is a history of stroke in my family (father and father's sister) so I take all of this very seriously.

[beeniesmom]

I didn't realize that age didn't play as big a part as I thought.

I'm 29, how old are you Pam?

[Pam]

I'm 29, how old are you Pam?

I am 59 . My daughter, who is Christiansmommy, will be 29 next month.