I'm 17 and have a cholesterol level of 220. It's possible that there is something wrong with the bloodwork and I'll get it checked again in six months, but I'd still like to know. I'm a vegeterian, I exercise frequently during winter and spring track seasons (moderately during the off season) and I eat very healthy for someone my age. I'm not underweight, but I don't weigh a lot for my age because I'm only 5'2 tall. I do have a family history of high cholesterol but no one has died of a heart attack. I'm thinking this is serious. Is there anything I can do before I need to take medicine? What more changes can I make? I drink skim milk, eat brown rice, use butter that isn't really butter...and the only junk food I eat are chocolate chip cookies and I don't eat more than 2 a day and that's only been recently.
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Q: I am 17 and I have unnaturally high cholesterol, but I'm not overweight. What can I do?
Silpa,
Thanks for your question. It sounds like you're doing all the right things with your diet and exercise. You should know that your cholesterol is only mildly elevated above the normal of 200. In addition to the total cholesterol number, doctors are very interested in the breakdown of the total into its components, especially the LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein also known as the bad cholesterol) and the HDL (High Density Lipoprotein or good cholesterol). The higher the HDL, the lower the risk for heart and vascular disease. Physicians also look at the ratio of Total Cholesterol to HDL which gives an idea of risk for heart and vascular disease. Ideally, you want that number less than four.
Because of your family history, it's important to keep you cholesterol under control, and you're doing a great job so far. When you have your laboratory work repeated, be sure to obtain the other values - total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. In the meantime, please review our website for more tips on healthy eating and lifestyle changes to keep your numbers under control.
Again, these numbers are just borderline, and you should be able to get them lower with little more effort. Given your exercise level, I wouldn't be surprised if your HDL was very high, therefore lowering your overall risk.
Best wishes.
Martin Cane, M.D.
220 total cholesterol may not be a bad number. Sometimes, especially in women, a very high HDL (good cholesterol) will skew the TC number. It's the ratio that counts.
read www.cholesterolscore.com
this may be hereditory specially if u are of asian origin, check yr parents' chlosterol levels and u may get help
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