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What Does My Lipid Profile Test Report Indicate?
Question: Hi. I am a 51 year old male. I am a non-smoker. Had a blood pressure of 145/100 for the last couple of years without medications. One month ago, my blood pressure read 150/100. I decided to visit a cardiologist after checking my lipid profile. The readings were:
T. Cholestrol: 260 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 94 mg/dl
HDL Cholestrol: 50 mg/dl
LDL Cholestrol: 191.2 mg/dl
The cardiologist prescribed a blood lowering medication, a statin (crestor) and daily pill of baby aspirin. Starting taking crestor for a couple of days made me feel terrible and decided to stop it; however the doctor says that it is necessary to take a statin to lower the high LDL. I started to go on a low fat, low carb diet and to exercise regularly instead of the statin drug with their side effects. But I am fine with the blood pressure medication. My blood pressure now after 10 days on medication is 130/80. But I do not want to go on statins. Could you pls. advise whether the lifestyle changes would be enough? The doctor says that life style changes are OK, but not enough to lower such a high LDL.
I have also made an Echocardiography and the conclusion says: Mild concentric LV remodeling and dilated aortic root. My doctor says that all other comments are normal and the dilated aortic root is due to my stage 1 hypertension for which I did not take any drugs.
I have read about the NMR which can also help determine the risk of heart disease but we do not have it in Egypt.
I have a copy of both the Echocardiography report and lipid profile; but do not know how to send them to you.
T. Cholestrol: 260 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 94 mg/dl
HDL Cholestrol: 50 mg/dl
LDL Cholestrol: 191.2 mg/dl
The cardiologist prescribed a blood lowering medication, a statin (crestor) and daily pill of baby aspirin. Starting taking crestor for a couple of days made me feel terrible and decided to stop it; however the doctor says that it is necessary to take a statin to lower the high LDL. I started to go on a low fat, low carb diet and to exercise regularly instead of the statin drug with their side effects. But I am fine with the blood pressure medication. My blood pressure now after 10 days on medication is 130/80. But I do not want to go on statins. Could you pls. advise whether the lifestyle changes would be enough? The doctor says that life style changes are OK, but not enough to lower such a high LDL.
I have also made an Echocardiography and the conclusion says: Mild concentric LV remodeling and dilated aortic root. My doctor says that all other comments are normal and the dilated aortic root is due to my stage 1 hypertension for which I did not take any drugs.
I have read about the NMR which can also help determine the risk of heart disease but we do not have it in Egypt.
I have a copy of both the Echocardiography report and lipid profile; but do not know how to send them to you.
Brief Answer:
It is recommended to try life-style and diet modification first.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern I would explain to you that using the SCORE chart (European Society of Cardiology) you are at moderate risk for cardiovascular events for the next 10 years (>1% to smoking status (non-smoke), your average blood pressure levels, your cholesterol, age.
The recommendations for a moderate cardiovascular risk profile is a healthy life-style; diet modification (is strongly recommended Mediterranean diet), physical activity (at least 30 min fast walking every day) and of course keeping a low LDL-cholesterol level with a target of <115 mg/dl.
The current guidelines recommend that you start with the above recommended measures and to check again your fasting blood lipid profile after three months. If the LDL-C target goal is achieved you have to just continue on the above measures. If otherwise, LDL-C remains high then you have to start lipid lowering drugs (like a statin, if no contraindications or side effects exist).
Of course blood pressure lowering therapy should be continued as it counts in you future risk profile measure.
Regarding NMR LipoProfile, sure it is not a routine test in many countries. It helps to identify patients for future cardiovascular events beyond the ability of LDL-cholesterol level (especially when we use a non-fasting blood sample), as it measures LDL particles.
Nevertheless, even fasting LDL-C level is a very good target and predictor of cardiovascular events.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
Feel free to ask me whenever you need!
Greetings! Dr. Iliri
It is recommended to try life-style and diet modification first.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern I would explain to you that using the SCORE chart (European Society of Cardiology) you are at moderate risk for cardiovascular events for the next 10 years (>1% to smoking status (non-smoke), your average blood pressure levels, your cholesterol, age.
The recommendations for a moderate cardiovascular risk profile is a healthy life-style; diet modification (is strongly recommended Mediterranean diet), physical activity (at least 30 min fast walking every day) and of course keeping a low LDL-cholesterol level with a target of <115 mg/dl.
The current guidelines recommend that you start with the above recommended measures and to check again your fasting blood lipid profile after three months. If the LDL-C target goal is achieved you have to just continue on the above measures. If otherwise, LDL-C remains high then you have to start lipid lowering drugs (like a statin, if no contraindications or side effects exist).
Of course blood pressure lowering therapy should be continued as it counts in you future risk profile measure.
Regarding NMR LipoProfile, sure it is not a routine test in many countries. It helps to identify patients for future cardiovascular events beyond the ability of LDL-cholesterol level (especially when we use a non-fasting blood sample), as it measures LDL particles.
Nevertheless, even fasting LDL-C level is a very good target and predictor of cardiovascular events.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
Feel free to ask me whenever you need!
Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Many thanks Dr. Iliri for your detailed answer which gave me much relief as I did not want to take statin drugs as they made me feel miserable. Also, as you have seen, my ALT is above the normal range and I feel worried that they may increase further with statin drugs.
I will certainly check the Mediterranean diet and maintain my daily exercises and check my lipid profile in 3 months time as you advised. Also, do you suggest any other tests to be made other than those that I have made and sent a copy to you?
Thanks again.
XXXX
I will certainly check the Mediterranean diet and maintain my daily exercises and check my lipid profile in 3 months time as you advised. Also, do you suggest any other tests to be made other than those that I have made and sent a copy to you?
Thanks again.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
I recommend HbA1c.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Another blood test I recommend you is glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C). Wish to you a long, happy and healthy life!
Feel free to ask me whenever you want!
Greetings!
I recommend HbA1c.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Another blood test I recommend you is glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C). Wish to you a long, happy and healthy life!
Feel free to ask me whenever you want!
Greetings!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks. I have also made this test. Pls. check the enclosed report.
Brief Answer:
You look fine!
Detailed Answer:
OK ! It seems fine. Looks that you take care of your health! This is very important. Just keep going this way! My best wishes!
You look fine!
Detailed Answer:
OK ! It seems fine. Looks that you take care of your health! This is very important. Just keep going this way! My best wishes!
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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