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Too often, doctors hastily reach for the prescription pad to start those of us with elevated lipid scores on a statin regimen. Even before you get your lipid panel results, visit cholesterolscore.com
The website, cholesterolscore.com is a site that focuses entirely on the therapeutic use of niacin to control cholesterol.
What about a very good LDL:HDL ratio, AND a good total cholesterol to HDL ratio, BUT still too high of LDL? I've tried to find research articles about this (I'm a biologist) but can't find much. I'm only 24, and my LDL is about 180, total is 256 (supposedly much too high as well), but my HDL is nice and high as well - about 76.
What does this mean? I've spoken to a physician but would appreciate more info.
Hi DZ,
You would benefit from an expanded lipid profile. This would look at the type of LDL particles you have to determine your risk. I recently interviewed Dr. Cynthia Shelby-Lane and she answered this very question. Check out the two posts below to see her answer.
Should You Receive Treatment for Very Low HDL Levels?
Can My HDL Be Too High?
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally
My bad cholesterol is 161. What should try to do?
I know I need more Fiber, fruits. I do not want to take PILLS.
I don't know if you know anything about; Fibrestore, fiber-rich
antioxidant dietary supplement, its a dietary fibre antioxidants-
digestive enzymes-21 herbs. Do you think this will help me?
Hi Dixie,
Your about needing bump up the fiber, especially soluble fiber. Check out this post for some tips:
Dietary Fiber: 4 Tips to Lower Cholesterol with Fiber
Evaluate your diet for trans fats and saturated fats which impact LDL cholesterol.
Don't forget about bumping up your activity level and losing weight if you're overweight. Both will positively impact your LDL cholesterol level.
No, I have not researched Fibrestore, so I'm not able to offer you feedback on their supplements. Maybe someone else will jump in with some feedback for you on this option.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally
I have read that the best single predictor of whether you are likely to have a heart attack is the ratio of your total cholesterol to your HDL or "good' cholesterol. Is this true?
Hi Anonymous,
I recommend you watch your triglyceride to HDL ratio. Triglycerides should never be more than double your HDL.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Be Heart Healthy and Lose Weight
I got my lab work back and my LDL is 107 which sounds high. My Lipid Ratio (?) is 3.27. It says that low is less than 5.0. I assume that's good. Is that the same as an HDL ratio? That is what I am used to seeing.
Also, my ALT came back at 60 with the good range showing 1-39. Should I be concerned?
My profile didn't even show HDL??? But it did have Creatinine, BUN,NA,K,CL,CA,ALT and CO2.
Any advise?
Hi Brian,
There are different lipid ratios. If you have your lab numbers you could complete the different calculations to determine if this ratio of 3.27 is total cholesterol to HDL.
The American Heart Association recommendations for LDL cholesterol are at least less than 130 mg/dl and ideally less than 100 mg/dl.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
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Thanks for your post Lisa. These numbers can really be confusing and keeping it straight is really tough. But you guide spells it out for us - good breakout for those who are challenged with this kind of information.
Readers may also want to check out these links for Information on Cholesterol: The Basics.
All the best, sue