Lipid profile

I have been taking Zocor and then Lipitor (10 mg) for the past 5 years.  Based on the physician's advice(for I was having liver upset and muscle pains), I have stopped Lipitor and switched to strict diet and exercise over the course of the past 4/5 months.  Here is my latest lipid profile: Triglycerides - 100, LDL: 73, Total: 123 and HDL 34.  My blood pressure is about normal 122/78.  While there has been a significant improvement in the first three, my HDL did not move up even by one point although I have lost about 25 pounds and about 4 inches in the waistline; I have logged close to 200 miles of jogging during that period.  Does it indicate a problem with my heart?  What are my realistic treatment and/or dietary options?

Thank you for this wonderful service.

[jim62]

Wow ! Those are really good numbers.  Of course, except for the HDL.  Every time I ask the docs about raising HDL, they say more exercise will do it.  They don't seem to realize that there is a limit to the amount of exercise we can do.  You might try something like a niacin supplement.  That seems to help HDL in some cases.

[mamameow]

have you tried removing trans fatty acids from the diet? do you have a small glass of wine a day? how about adding mono and poly fats to diet and remove sat fats? adding soluble fiber to diet? how about adding aerobic exercise? you could add omega 3 fish oil. what is your family history look like for coronary disease.? family history is probably the single most risk factor. an interesting point about statins(lipitor and such) is that the medical field does not know if these drugs actually lower the amount of fats deposited into our arteries. they know it lowers the numbers but not the actual fat. for instance, if jim's body deposits 10 particles of fat (just a hypothetical number), does he still deposit that amount after taking medication like lipotor? they do not know, only an assumption. also niacin could help but a lot of people are bothered by the niacin "flush". my husband was not but it made me feel like i was dying.

[iimb77]

Thank you for your helpful comments.  I will try.  Thank you