HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does My Lipid Profile Test Result Indicate?

default
Posted on Mon, 28 Dec 2015
Question: My age is 28, weight is 73, height 5.10 inches, BP 120/80 (usually 130/80 or 110/90), Fasting Sugar is at 67mg/dl and heart beat is around 80 (usually B\W 75-80 BPM). I toke Lipid profile in month of Aug '15. Below are the values.

Lipid profile:

Total cholesterol:186 mg\dl

HDL cholesterol: 38 mg\dl

LDL cholesterol: 125 mg\dl

VLDL cholesterol: 23 mg\dl

Tryglycerides: 109 mg\dl

cholesterol/ HDL ratio: 4.8 mg\dl

LDL\HDL ratio: 3.5 mg\dl.

To reduce LDL & increase HDL, I had maintained strict diet (consumed less oil, lost 5 kgs weight in 3 months, brisk walk for 20 mins followed by 10 mins workouts for atleast 5 days in a week, added lot of vegetables, fruits dry fruits & nuts into my diet). But when i toke Lipid profile today below are the values. I am shell shocked to see below values. My HDL feel down to 29 from 38mg\dl. Please let me know am i in problem.

Lipid profile:

Total cholesterol:145 mg\dl

HDL cholesterol: 29 mg\dl

LDL cholesterol: 94 mg\dl

VLDL cholesterol: 22 mg\dl

Tryglycerides: 111 mg\dl

cholesterol/ HDL ratio: 5.0 mg\dl

LDL\HDL ratio: 3.2 mg\dl

I have a doubt whether this report is accurate or not. I got results within hour after i gave blood sample. Please help me out of this situation.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your lipid profile is reassuring

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to health care magic,

i have read your query in details and understand the concern.

This lipid profile report is not abnormal since chol/hdl ratio is more important than rather than merely cholesterol and HDL levels. It should be below 5.0 as per XXXXXXX Heart Association.
However,your HDL is low but it is not indicative of any disease or even a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Also, it is very difficult to say regarding health condition from just a lipid profile report but low HDL can be improved by appropriate diet and regular exercises.

The main reason for HDL to be low could be lack of enough muscular exercise.
Initial 20 minutes of walk goes in burning your sugar and then the fat start burning which should happen for another 20 to 25 minutes through a stable, moderate speed of 5 to 6 km/hour and then you will certainly see improvement in the HDL cholesterol.

So, you should do exercises for at least 40 to 45 minutes daily to improve HDL cholesterol.

In general, to reduce your Chol/HDL ratio and to increase HDL follow these dietary guidelines (from which you must be aware already)

- Avoid direct sugars
- Avoid fried snacks, bakery items
- Have ample of vegetable salads- at least 1 bowlful cut raw vegetables like cucumber, tomato, carrot and vegetables which you can eat raw.
- Snacks should contain healthy nuts like almonds or walnuts and a few dry fruits but no fruit juices
- Avoid soft drinks or hard drinks and smoking cessation.
- Simple Chapati and steamed rice or rotis made up of different whole grains should be your staple diet.
- Skimmed milk and milk items made up of skimmed milk are good to check on cholesterol
- Egg white is fine but avoid egg yellow means yolk.
-vitamin B3 (niacin) increases HDL cholesterol.

It might take some time (like 6 months to 1 year or may be more) to improve HDL cholesterol.

So,next time go for lipid profile (with fasting blood sample) at least after 6 months and not before that to see some significant change.

Hope this answer will help to understand it clearly.Let me know if you have more doubts.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (15 hours later)
Thanks for detailed answer. I have few questions can you please provide answer for same.

1) Why did my HDL level decreased even after following strict diet and exercise.

2) Dropping of HDL from 38 to 29 is good?

3) as per internet sources, HDL below <40 is at high risk risk of developing cardiac disease. Is this true.

4) i had seen significant dip in LDL compared from last test, is this because of the diet i followed?

5) And am i at risk of developing any heart disease now?

Little bit more background about me

1) I have severe gastric problem, often get chest pain. Got feared and got ECG & 2D ECHO done in month of Aug '15. Doctors told everything is fine.

2) I have Anxiety disorder as well. I do lot of thinking about my health because of my dad sudden expire because of asthma attack (he was unable to breath). Does chest pain comes because of Anxiety as well? And does gastric increase because of too much of thinking.

3) from past 3 months i didn't stepped out of my house frequently because i was afraid something will happen to me. I had panic attack in Aug '15. From that time onwards i started feeling that i will fall down. I have fear of driving alone and if i tensed i feel someone pushes me as side. It is not giddiness or dizziness. I am not having peace of mind from past 3 months.

This problems are affecting my personal life & my peace of mind.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Will answer one by one.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.

1) The main reason of low HDL could be lack of enough muscular exercises as I said earlier or may be genetic or related to certain races.

2) Dropping down level of HDL is not good but your other bad cholesterols are within normal limits. So there is no need to be worried much.

Generally, it is seen that if HDL goes down, there should be simultaneous rise in LDL and VLDL but it is not there in your case.

So, you may repeat the test after couple of months on fasting sample.

3) Yes,below 40 HDL level is considered a risk factor for cardiac disease theoretically but we should also look at the other cholesterols which are very much within normal limits in your case. So, the chol/hdl ratio will not be much higher.

Also, we can change our HDL by proper diet and regular exercises as we discussed earlier.

4) Yes,LDL has come down because of your strict diet.

5) As I said earlier, it is very difficult to say regarding health condition (risk of cardiac disease) from just a lipid profile report where you have only concern with your HDL and other bad cholesterols are normal.

So, I do not think that you are at a higher risk of developing any cardiac disease at present.

Gastric problem is likely responsible for chest pain for which you can take antacids (pantoprazole 40 mg) with digene liquid on as and when required basis.

Yes, chest pain could be because of anxiety and too much thinking (stress or tension) is the major responsible factor nowadays for gastric problems.

From the facts you have posted here, you have most probably anxiety related panic attacks.

Clinically, it is very difficult to say why or how this excess anxiety or panic attacks comes but we can only manage them accordingly.

If I were your treating doctor, I would have advised you anti-anxiety drugs like recita forte 10 mg,opiprol 50 mg and lorazepam 0.5 mg since they are good drugs in the treatment of anxiety related panic attacks.

You can consult some local physician who will know about it and may prescribe you.

Also, If your thyroid is normal and if you are not anemic then, you should take these medicines with psychological counseling which will help to de-stress you and to alleviate the anxiety related symptoms.

In addition, here are some of the other precautionary measures which you should also follow to gain some benefit.

1) When you have such symptoms, breathe slowly and deeply through the nose and talk to your family and friends.

2) Do not take caffeine or alcohol (if you take) at night just before going to bed.

3) Do yoga and mind relaxing exercises like meditation to calm your mind in your daily routine.

4) You can also practice progressive muscle relaxation which is useful in anxiety by alternately tensing and relaxing the muscles.

Hope this detailed answer will be helpful.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (5 hours later)
Thanks sir for the Information.

As my sugar & BP are normal, at times i feel little giddy not totally like surroundings are rotating. it is like sudden wave goes into head. Even i find difficult to understand whether that is headache or giddy or something else.

And do i need to undergo any heart related tests again. lot of doctors told me not required to repeat heart related tests again and again.

And i am afraid to go out alone, is this because of Anxiety disorder or any other reason.

This issue is really effecting my personal life.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No need for cardiac tests.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.

1) Dizziness even in any position is concerning. It could be due to variety of causes or it could be transient or could also be related to anxiety or panic attacks.

So,If the dizziness is not troubling your day to day work, then you may wait for few days. Until then you may take proper hydration and electrolyte balance with some symptomatic antihistamines treatment like betahistidine (vertin 16 mg) or cinaarizine (stugerone forte 25mg) available over the counter. Do not panic.

However if the problem is persistent, you should see a doctor (ENT preferably) at the earliest and get evaluated further.

I will suggest you undergo routine blood count, ESR, blood electrolytes, tests for vestibular (balance) system like electronystagmography or rotation tests to diagnose the cause for dizziness.

2) You do not need to be evaluated for cardiac tests since you have already done EKG and 2D-echo which were normal earlier.

3) Your fear to go our alone could be related to anxiety for which you should see physician as we have already discussed in our previous conversation.

Hope this will help and let me know if you have more doubts.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sandip Kabra

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 3078 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does My Lipid Profile Test Result Indicate?

Brief Answer: Your lipid profile is reassuring Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to health care magic, i have read your query in details and understand the concern. This lipid profile report is not abnormal since chol/hdl ratio is more important than rather than merely cholesterol and HDL levels. It should be below 5.0 as per XXXXXXX Heart Association. However,your HDL is low but it is not indicative of any disease or even a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Also, it is very difficult to say regarding health condition from just a lipid profile report but low HDL can be improved by appropriate diet and regular exercises. The main reason for HDL to be low could be lack of enough muscular exercise. Initial 20 minutes of walk goes in burning your sugar and then the fat start burning which should happen for another 20 to 25 minutes through a stable, moderate speed of 5 to 6 km/hour and then you will certainly see improvement in the HDL cholesterol. So, you should do exercises for at least 40 to 45 minutes daily to improve HDL cholesterol. In general, to reduce your Chol/HDL ratio and to increase HDL follow these dietary guidelines (from which you must be aware already) - Avoid direct sugars - Avoid fried snacks, bakery items - Have ample of vegetable salads- at least 1 bowlful cut raw vegetables like cucumber, tomato, carrot and vegetables which you can eat raw. - Snacks should contain healthy nuts like almonds or walnuts and a few dry fruits but no fruit juices - Avoid soft drinks or hard drinks and smoking cessation. - Simple Chapati and steamed rice or rotis made up of different whole grains should be your staple diet. - Skimmed milk and milk items made up of skimmed milk are good to check on cholesterol - Egg white is fine but avoid egg yellow means yolk. -vitamin B3 (niacin) increases HDL cholesterol. It might take some time (like 6 months to 1 year or may be more) to improve HDL cholesterol. So,next time go for lipid profile (with fasting blood sample) at least after 6 months and not before that to see some significant change. Hope this answer will help to understand it clearly.Let me know if you have more doubts. Regards, Dr.Sandip Kabra