Raising HDL & cardio CRP testing

[Hiker in Hawaii]

My MD & I have been trying for about 5 years now to raise my HDL (I have family history w/father dying of heart attack at 48) .Niaspan only raised it nominally, & now he wants to try Crestor.....Are statins good for raising HDL?...If one can keep their LDL down low enough say under 80, is HDL still significant?....Except for HDL, my other numbers are good...I'm non-smoker, & ideal weight, & active.....

Also, we sometimes do a cardio CRP test (most of the time it's just the lipid profile)....I've had about 6 crp tests done since 2003 - results have been typically been between .03 - .07......I did round of bloodwork last week & I've had a cold last 10 days or so....My CRP this time was astonishingly high at 3.5......My MD didn't seem to worried (we'll retest in couple weeks), is it possible for a cold to alter results like that?....(Last CRP test was Oct. 2007  & result was .03)....Could there have been some other trauma (heart related or not) that caused such a spike in the CRP......

I probably should visit a cardiologist for a consult (I'm 38 now), but admit to being scared to do so......What tests would a cardioligist perform on an initial visit?...

Thanks for your assistance........

[Cleveland Clinic]

Crestor is an atypical statin in that it raises the HDL by 5-10%, but more importantly decreases through pleomorphic effects the crp level, There is some data that increasing HDL with Niaspan and gemfibrozil in men decreases mortallity if their initial HDL is below 35-40. I would probably start a statin, and see what happens to your ldl and hdl. If the hdl remains low, then I would add gemfibrozil to raise it ( since Niaspan did not work).

[Hiker in Hawaii]

Is the crp a sensitive test that can be raised by a cold, injury, etc.?.....Thanks

[Healthyself2]

Low HDL seemed to be the significant factor in my coronary artery disease.  My total cholesterol was around 230 and HDL was 30 when I had my heart attack at 49.

I started with just a statin, but have taken Lipitor + 1000mg Niaspan + Whelcol for over 5 years.  My hdl has consistently been in the 50's and I keep my total Cholesterol around 150-160.  I had driven the TC down to 130, but thought it unwise for the long haul as I believe that the body has a purpose for ldl cholesterol.

Also I began doing a lot of walking/hiking/skiing.  At one time I was hiking 10,000' of elevation gain per week.  I'm sure that had an effect on HDL.  I'm a believer that mildly aerobic, long duration exercise is the best for heart rehab and raising HDL.

The other factor in HDL is alcohol, which I have more than covered, unfortunately:)

It sounds like you already do a lot of exercise.  Unfortunately with the failure of Pfizer's HDL drug to make it to market, we are only left with high dose Niacin, exercise, and alcohol. (and gemfibrozil).

If you can get a 3/1 ratio of tc to hdl by lowering tc, I guess that will accomplish the same thing, but I do have concern about the long term effects of extreme cholesterol production containment.

[donder1]

Hi Hiker
The CRP can be elevated if you have an infection, inflammation, ie; arthritis, etc.
My dr. suggests fishoil, or flaxseed oil to help with the cholesterol..
It sounds like you are very health conscious, and doing everything you can to stay fit.
My guess that a cardiologist would order tests only if you were having symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heart beat, abnormal  ekg.. then it would probably be stress test, echoardiogram, & ct scan, none of which are very invasive, except for the IV for the thallium.
In my opinion, once you have been checked, you should just try to relax and enjoy life!
Hope this helps.

[Hiker in Hawaii]

What is gemfibrozil?.....

Yeah, it's been very difficult to raise HDL...Actually, I had higher HDL readings without medication, around 35-38....Medication has lowered HDL, to below 35 & it's also has lowered LDL even further, but I had low LDL before meds....My total cholesterol with meds is typically below 150, trigelcerides are generally under 75, & LDL is typically below 100.....

[mas2782]

Just wanted to pass along the info I learned just a few minutes ago...I was able to change my lipids as follows and it has been a real blessing of good news for me...

11/07

Total- 175
Tri- 145
HDL- 27
LDL- 126

3/30/07

Total- 142
Tri- 78
HDL- 45
LDL- 81


I did a progressive Niacin regiment twice a day for 14 weeks beginning with 250 mg and now taking 1500 mg daily...I also take CoQ10, and Pro-Vex CV. The other major thing I did was Agotston's diet and I have lost 30 lbs. (205-175) since December...

So these two strategies really have worked for me thus far.

BTW- I take the NON-slow release Niacin right out of the bottle...not Niaspan...but from what I understand they are the same thing.

[Healthyself2]

Just a note.  The Real Niacin is nicotinic acid or Vitamin B3.  Because it causes "Flushing" you need to build up a tolerance for it slowly.  This is the only one that raises HDL.  I have insurance, so I take the Niaspan, which is a time release nicotinic acid.  The "No Flush" Niacins are a different formula (Inositol Hexanicotinate) and don't have an effect on HDL.  Here is an article on it:


http://health.yahoo.com/experts/heartdisease/3924/dont-be-taken-in-by-no-flush-niacin/

[bigkev414]

I had low HDL for at least 30 years. Tried Lipitor and didn't like the side affects. Now this might sound like I'm a crank but I started eating an avocado a day (1/2 if they are really big) and over a period of about 6 - 9 months my HDL rose significantly and has stayed high much to the surprise of the doctors who are sceptical but acknowledge that something has done it. I can't remember where I heard about the benfits of avocado's re cholesterol but I must have read it or got it from an avocado farm leaflet. Why don't you try it for a while? I also use it as a spread on sandwiches etc instead of butter or margerine.

[Sheri333]

A related discussion, WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO LOWER CARDIO CRP was started.