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Is LDL Value Of 152 A Cause For Concern?
Question: Hi,
My LDL cholesterol is 152 and overall is 209. Should I take medication? I have started exercising past 1 month. The level was 219 one month back. Is there any kind of food I should cut down. Please suggest.
XXXX
My LDL cholesterol is 152 and overall is 209. Should I take medication? I have started exercising past 1 month. The level was 219 one month back. Is there any kind of food I should cut down. Please suggest.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
YES - drug needed AND life style changes
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
HDL is good cholesterol – higher, the better.
LDL is bad cholesterol – lower, the better. ..In the absence of any other risk factor 100 is ideal for LDL-C. In the presence of other diseases (especially Diabetes and/or established heart disease), 70 should be the aim.
LIFE STYLE CHANGES
Keep your weight to normal / even a little less
Quit smoking, if you are a smoker
Do regular EXERCISE – say walking or jogging - 30 minutes a day / at least 5 days in a week. Isometric exercise (like bull worker) is bad.
Healthy FOOD is a must. Avoid saturated fats – coconut oil, palm oil, butter, ghee, full cream milk...Avoid junk foods in particular – French fries have palm oil / Pizza has cheese / XXXXXXX sweets are made in ghee.../ Change to Poly-un-saturated oil – like sun flower oil. / Include Mono-un-saturated oil – Olive oil.
DRUGS
Your LDL is rather high – can still be high, in spite of diet and exercise
You also need drugs, because of the high level, Diet and exercise have a definite but limited.. and the target level cannot be attained...
Cholesterol is also manufactured in the liver – and that is determined by heredity.
Statin is the first choice. Start it straight away (Primary Prophylaxis). There are several of them – the most common is Atorvastatin. Generally we start at 20 mg a day at night…
Repeat the test in 2 to 3 months.
If still high, the dose can be increased – the range is up to 80 mg….
A second drug like Ezetimibe may also be added
Your doctor can give appropriate prescription
Good luck
God bless you
YES - drug needed AND life style changes
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
HDL is good cholesterol – higher, the better.
LDL is bad cholesterol – lower, the better. ..In the absence of any other risk factor 100 is ideal for LDL-C. In the presence of other diseases (especially Diabetes and/or established heart disease), 70 should be the aim.
LIFE STYLE CHANGES
Keep your weight to normal / even a little less
Quit smoking, if you are a smoker
Do regular EXERCISE – say walking or jogging - 30 minutes a day / at least 5 days in a week. Isometric exercise (like bull worker) is bad.
Healthy FOOD is a must. Avoid saturated fats – coconut oil, palm oil, butter, ghee, full cream milk...Avoid junk foods in particular – French fries have palm oil / Pizza has cheese / XXXXXXX sweets are made in ghee.../ Change to Poly-un-saturated oil – like sun flower oil. / Include Mono-un-saturated oil – Olive oil.
DRUGS
Your LDL is rather high – can still be high, in spite of diet and exercise
You also need drugs, because of the high level, Diet and exercise have a definite but limited.. and the target level cannot be attained...
Cholesterol is also manufactured in the liver – and that is determined by heredity.
Statin is the first choice. Start it straight away (Primary Prophylaxis). There are several of them – the most common is Atorvastatin. Generally we start at 20 mg a day at night…
Repeat the test in 2 to 3 months.
If still high, the dose can be increased – the range is up to 80 mg….
A second drug like Ezetimibe may also be added
Your doctor can give appropriate prescription
Good luck
God bless you
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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