Lipid Panel

[franceslee]

I have a big questions and need some advice.  I just had a lipid panel done and these are my results:

Cholesterol 227; triglycerides 163; hdl 38; vldl 33; ldl 161 and risk factor 5.97

What does it mean??  I had a heart scan done last month and the results said i had no plaque/calcium bulid up, my score was perfect, but this states i have a risk factor, why?

Also, back in September of 2011 I had a lipid panel and the results were:

cholesterol 182; triglycerides 188; hdl 31 and ldl 113

How could it change that much that quick??  I dont want to have to go on medication for this!  What can I do naturally to get it where it needs to be an have no risk factor??

Thanks!  I really would appreciate the help!!!

[franceslee]

I am 4' 11' and weigh 204 but I was at 237 so I have lost some weight!  I an also on lisinopril for blood pressure (10 mg). My grandmother has had a aren't but other than that the family is ok.  I did have one of those heart scans and they said I had no plaque/calcium build up.  

I had an echo done in 2006 an the doc said it was fine an no need to follow up.so not really sure. He didn't want a stress test cause he said there was no need sine echo results were good.

As u can see between the two different test, I brought my Hdl up an my Ldl down, plus my total cholesterol was less on the first test.  It's hard for me to understand why the big change(total esp.)

Does it make sense to you?

[erijon]

your lipid panel has two issues, you have a low HDL or good cholesterol and a high LDL or bad cholesterol. Your HDL should be over 50 and your LDL should be between 100 and 130 depending on your other risk factors like blood pressure, body weight, family history ect.

To get these numbers in line will most likely require some medical intervention as it will be very difficult to lower your LDL that much with lifestyle changes alone. Exercise will increase your HDL but will not have a huge impact on LDL, that will need to come from diet and raising your HDL. Don't be afraid of cholesterol lowering drugs, the risk of side effects are very, very low, especially when compared to the risk of having a bad lipid profile.

Also, remember that your calcium score has nothing to do with your lipid profile or risk. It just tells you that you don't currently have any plaque build up. Personally, I think a calcium score test is a waste of money in people as young as you as it is very rare to have an elevated calcium score at your age. I would be much more interested in a nuclear stress test and echo.

Hope this helps,

Jon