Cholesterol Levels

[BabsD]

I'm a 37 yr old woman who was diagnosed at 31 as having had a silent heart attack, although the doctors don't know when it
happened.I have never smoked or taken drugs, drink rarely and am otherwise healthy,although I am 40 lbs overweight (I am currently trying to lose weight).  My EF is 50, with normal blood pressure. I currently take 1 mg folic acid, 81 mg aspirin, 25 mg atenolol, fish oil and a multivitamin. I started taking the atenolol in 1999 for benign PVCs.

Cholesterol tests over the last several years have been as follows:
2002 -  total cholesterol:186, HDL:43, LDL:130, Trig:68
2001 -  total cholesterol:183, HDL:49, LDL:123, Trig:56
2000 -  total cholesterol:201, HDL:58, LDL:130
1998 -  total cholesterol:190, HDL:65, LDL:115, Trig:31.

It seems that my HDL has been dropping and my Triglycerides and LDL rising since I've started taking atenolol, although my total cholesterol has been fairly stable or dropping. I read an article recently that said that beta blockers can adversely affect your lipid profile, specifically, raising triglycerides 10-40 % and lowering HDL 5 - 20%.

Is this something I should be concerned with?  Is there another
beta blocker I should be on that doesn't adversely affect my cholesterol?

My internist told me that she would like me to take a cholesterol-lowering drug. I mentioned to her that I was planning to try to get pregnant soon, so she recommended waiting until after I'm through having children to start the medication. Do you agree with this?

Thanks in advance.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear babs,
The effects of beta-blockers on lipids are well known to have an adverse influence. This effect however is short term and there are no long-term adverse effects.  I would suspect the changes in your lipid profile over time are not related to the beta-blockers.  

Cholesterol lowering drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy so I would agree with your internist that you wait to start these.  The benefits of cholesterol lowering drugs are over the long term so waiting a few years will not make that much difference.  However, you should be following a low fat diet and be getting regular exercise.

[Trops]

Not sure if it's OK to link to the topic of Cholesterol Levels or if the thread is limited to the original poster's (Babs) question, so advance apologies if this isn't a correct use of the forum.

My question has to do with the opposite of most people's concerns. Namely, my cholesterol levels are extremely low and I'm worried about that.  Medications I'm on, post CABG surgery, are Zocor 20mg,Atenolol 20mg, and Aspirin 325mg.

Test results about a month and a half after CABG surgery (Nov 2001) showed total cholesterol = 102; HDL=33; LDL=50; Triglycerides=96. I've read that test results so soon afer surgery might not be reliable, but these results are kind of scary. (For the record, a blood test done about 2 years ago, in July 2000, showed Total Chol=174; HDL=42; LDL=120; Triglycerides=61)

I just had another blood test done and haven't gotten the results back yet, so maybe the above results are flukey.

About 2 weeks ago, I was also diagnosed with sludge and a polyp in my gallbladder, with the recommendation to have my gallbladder removed.

I'd like to know if there's any problem with such low cholesterol levels and if there's any relationship to the recent gallbladder diagnosis.

Thanks

John

[squeala7]

Hi Babs! I just noticed your cholesterol levels and MAN! They look really good! Why would your Dr want you on cholesterol medication??? The LDL should be 130 or under - and yours is...and the HDL / anything over 35 is good and yours is much higher than that! Mine is 29!!! Yes I have a problem with that and Im working it - but Im on toprol XL for palps and wonder if that doesnt have something to do with it as well. You must eat well - because your total cholesterol is under 200 and thats the standard so am I missing something? I have read numerous studies how cholesterol lowering drugs or statins actually harm you in the long run. Your body needs to make choleseterol and suppression of the liver makign the cholesterol can produce serious effects later in life. I have a lot of medical background, Im not a Dr, but I was confused why your dr thought you needed the drugs when your cholesterol paints a good picture? Stay away from drugs as much as you can! Think about it - all of the studies performed are by guess who, DRUG companies who are making the money. When statins came out as a new "wonder drug" the drug companies paid for thousands of studies, then suddenly the standards dropped on cholesterol. Remember, 35% of people who die of heart attacks had NORMAL cholesterol levels. So cholesterol in itself is just one of MANY risk factors. Enjoy your life and your good HDL! (really you do have a good HDL at 49!) I had a baby 4 years ago and it lowered my HDL, I too am 40 pounds overweight and am working on it - you know getting pregnant has also shown to lower cholesterol! SO go have that baby! LOL! Good luck!