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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
High HDL and High LDL, Do I need to take medication.
Answered by
Cleveland Clinic - Heart
Cleveland - OH
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High HDL and High LDL, Do I need to take medication.
by Kendall55, Feb 24, 2009 01:03PM
I am 53 and female. For three years that I know of, I have had high Cholesterol with High HDL and LDL levels and they continue to rise. Two family doctors told me not to worry about, the good counteracts the bad. I just saw my GYN for some other lab work that I brought with me and when she saw my Cholesterol level she wanted to put me on Cholesterol meds. which I am glad to do because I don't like having such a high LDL and total.
Previous 2 yrs. Cholesterol Tests Total = 183 HDL = 62 LDL = 109
Total = 236 HDL = 97 LDL = 126
Present Total Cholesterol Total = 261 HDL= 104 LDL = 145
Is it dangerous to have these number and do I need to be on anti-cholesterol meds.?
Also, why to the HDL and LDL numbers never add up to the total number? What happens to the missing numbers?
Thank you.
Previous 2 yrs. Cholesterol Tests Total = 183 HDL = 62 LDL = 109
Total = 236 HDL = 97 LDL = 126
Present Total Cholesterol Total = 261 HDL= 104 LDL = 145
Is it dangerous to have these number and do I need to be on anti-cholesterol meds.?
Also, why to the HDL and LDL numbers never add up to the total number? What happens to the missing numbers?
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Feb 28, 2009 04:48PM
, Feb 28, 2009 04:48PM
Cholesterol comes in many forms in the body and it is almost never measured directly. As mentioned above 20% of chylomicrons carry cholesterol and since most of triglycerides are in chylomicrons the approximation is made.
The levels at which to treat depend on the number of risk factors for coronary disease. It was though that the high HDL would decrease the level at which one treats high LDL, but this view in now less popular since there are disorders which cause high HDL and also high rates of coronary disease.
So ask you doctor what your risk factors are and whether or not you need treatment. To be safe you could start a cholesterol lowering medication with any number of risk factors, but even then the goal for treatment is different.
The levels at which to treat depend on the number of risk factors for coronary disease. It was though that the high HDL would decrease the level at which one treats high LDL, but this view in now less popular since there are disorders which cause high HDL and also high rates of coronary disease.
So ask you doctor what your risk factors are and whether or not you need treatment. To be safe you could start a cholesterol lowering medication with any number of risk factors, but even then the goal for treatment is different.
Member Comments (3)
by runnertom, Feb 24, 2009 04:25PM
To: Kendall55
The total cholesterol is the total of the HDL and LDL with 1/5 of the triglycerides.
by Kendall55, Feb 27, 2009 11:13PM
To: runnerton
Thank you for that information. I asked several people on several levelsand no one knew the answer.
