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What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?
Question: I had a lipid test in Feb 2015, and the numbers were bad:
Total was 258
LDL was 156
triglycerides were 117
HDL was 86
After changing my lifestyle and improving a few things (vitamins & herbs), I went the other day to have it rechecked, and here's the new numbers:
LDL was 117
HDL was 58
Triglycerides were 90
Total cholesterol was 93
My question is WHY did my GOOD HDL drop so significantly??!!!!!!!! I'm concerned because this is my protector against heart disease, so please help me understand what's going on??????
Total was 258
LDL was 156
triglycerides were 117
HDL was 86
After changing my lifestyle and improving a few things (vitamins & herbs), I went the other day to have it rechecked, and here's the new numbers:
LDL was 117
HDL was 58
Triglycerides were 90
Total cholesterol was 93
My question is WHY did my GOOD HDL drop so significantly??!!!!!!!! I'm concerned because this is my protector against heart disease, so please help me understand what's going on??????
Brief Answer:
HDL dropped because all your other numbers dropped
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
You are concerned about your cholesterol numbers. You had elevated cholesterol and then changed your diet. With the change your total cholesterol reduced along with your HDL. That would be expected. What you have to look at is the LDL to HDL ratio in your first test it was 156:86 and after diet it was 117:58. The ratio really did not change in fact it improved. Therefore you have improved you scores adn protected your heart better. So it is not the absolute numbers that matter it is the ratio that matters.
So I say congratulations
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
HDL dropped because all your other numbers dropped
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
You are concerned about your cholesterol numbers. You had elevated cholesterol and then changed your diet. With the change your total cholesterol reduced along with your HDL. That would be expected. What you have to look at is the LDL to HDL ratio in your first test it was 156:86 and after diet it was 117:58. The ratio really did not change in fact it improved. Therefore you have improved you scores adn protected your heart better. So it is not the absolute numbers that matter it is the ratio that matters.
So I say congratulations
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your explanation, but I'm still confused. Throughout my entire life, I've ALWAYS had a healthy weight, diet, and lifestyle, and even when my cholesterol numbers (LDL, Tryglicerides) were in optimal ranges, my HDL was always in the mid-70s range. So I still don't understand why it would drop all the way down to 58 when my LDL clearly is NOT in the optimal range which is less than 100........so I still need further clarification on what's going on with these numbers???
Brief Answer:
HDL is a dynamic number
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for you further questions. The HDL is a number that can be very dynamic and change from one test to another. The overall picture here is that everything is good. Just because one test is lower than normal does not mean too much. The drop could just be due to sampling error or from the variance of the testing or event the testing machine itself. In other words there are a lot of variables and I would not concern myself with this little dip in your HDL. If you are still concerned. you can recheck you labs in 3 months and see where you are then.
HDL is a dynamic number
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for you further questions. The HDL is a number that can be very dynamic and change from one test to another. The overall picture here is that everything is good. Just because one test is lower than normal does not mean too much. The drop could just be due to sampling error or from the variance of the testing or event the testing machine itself. In other words there are a lot of variables and I would not concern myself with this little dip in your HDL. If you are still concerned. you can recheck you labs in 3 months and see where you are then.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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