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High Cholesterol, Triglycerides Level. Medicine Required Or Can Be Controlled By Diet, Exercise?
Total cholesterol = 223, triglycerides = 132, HDl=45, VLDL=26, LDL = 152. Do these numbers warrant medication or can the levels be lowered with diet and excersize? What are other options other than statin drugs to lower the numbers. BTW am a 53 yr old female. All other numbers, sugar, liver function, CBC, etc. were in the normal range.
Tue, 12 Mar 2013
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The triglycerides are normal but the HDL is a little low for a female ( it should be greater than 50 to exert a protective effect.
THE LDL goal levels varies with the number of individual risk factors. The risk factors are age greater than 55 for a female, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, family history of early heart disease (a male family member with significant heart disease before age 55 and a female before age 65).
If you only have one of these and no other illnesses (such as diabetes), then your LDL should be less than 160,
If you have at least 2 of these then it should be less than 130.
If you have a history of disease of the blood vessels of the heart or diabetes then it should be less than 100.
To lower your ldl you would need to exercise at least 150 mins a week and use a diet high in fiber.
In terms of the diet this would be: at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, barley, oats, whole grain products, brown rice/pasta/bread instead of white rice/pasta/bread.
I hope this helps
The triglycerides are normal but the HDL is a little low for a female ( it should be greater than 50 to exert a protective effect.
THE LDL goal levels varies with the number of individual risk factors. The risk factors are age greater than 55 for a female, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, family history of early heart disease (a male family member with significant heart disease before age 55 and a female before age 65).
If you only have one of these and no other illnesses (such as diabetes), then your LDL should be less than 160,
If you have at least 2 of these then it should be less than 130.
If you have a history of disease of the blood vessels of the heart or diabetes then it should be less than 100.
To lower your ldl you would need to exercise at least 150 mins a week and use a diet high in fiber.
In terms of the diet this would be: at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, barley, oats, whole grain products, brown rice/pasta/bread instead of white rice/pasta/bread.
I hope this helps
I find this answer helpful
3 Doctors agree with this answer
Hi,
Welcome to HCM,
You are 53 years young female,and your report of Lipid profile shows slightly raised Total cholesterol, LDL ( Bad Cholesterol)is 152 which is also mildly raised and HDL (Good Cholesterol) is on lower side of normal range.
Your Triglyceride is 132 which is OK , The decision of starting medication depends on various other factors most important is diet modification and exercise will help to reduce these level but also improve your cardiovascular health and improve HDL, so make changes in your diet and start exercise minimum 30 to 45 min brisk walking daily on all days.
In diet reduce fats total calories from fats should be
Please avoid butter,red meat,and increase green vegetables and fresh fruits and even taking omega 3 fatty acid helps a bit.
Risk factors includes Obesity,High blood pressure,age(Menopause),Positive family history
Target for LDL along with other risk factors is
Reducing weight also helps if you are overweight.
Your Physician can give trial of these lifestyle changes and see if it helps or you may require statin the drugs which reduce LDL and there are few drugs which increase HDL.
Please take care
Good Luck.
Welcome to HCM,
You are 53 years young female,and your report of Lipid profile shows slightly raised Total cholesterol, LDL ( Bad Cholesterol)is 152 which is also mildly raised and HDL (Good Cholesterol) is on lower side of normal range.
Your Triglyceride is 132 which is OK , The decision of starting medication depends on various other factors most important is diet modification and exercise will help to reduce these level but also improve your cardiovascular health and improve HDL, so make changes in your diet and start exercise minimum 30 to 45 min brisk walking daily on all days.
In diet reduce fats total calories from fats should be
Please avoid butter,red meat,and increase green vegetables and fresh fruits and even taking omega 3 fatty acid helps a bit.
Risk factors includes Obesity,High blood pressure,age(Menopause),Positive family history
Target for LDL along with other risk factors is
Reducing weight also helps if you are overweight.
Your Physician can give trial of these lifestyle changes and see if it helps or you may require statin the drugs which reduce LDL and there are few drugs which increase HDL.
Please take care
Good Luck.
I find this answer helpful
1 Doctor agrees with this answer
Hello
Well come to health care magic
Dear patient, this lipid profile of yours is not so much derranged as to require a pharmocological therpy, it can become better than this by simply doing aerobic exercises, avoiding high cholesterol and fatty diets, and by reducing weight if you are obese or over weight. Besides statins there are other lipid lowering medicines like fibrates, gimfibrozil and others
thanks
Dr Arshad
Well come to health care magic
Dear patient, this lipid profile of yours is not so much derranged as to require a pharmocological therpy, it can become better than this by simply doing aerobic exercises, avoiding high cholesterol and fatty diets, and by reducing weight if you are obese or over weight. Besides statins there are other lipid lowering medicines like fibrates, gimfibrozil and others
thanks
Dr Arshad
I find this answer helpful
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