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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Concerns with GOOD Cholesterol
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: Concerns with GOOD Cholesterol
by Dave__0__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Dave on December 20, 1998 at 04:12:21:
In Reply to: Re: Concerns with GOOD Cholesterol posted by CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on December 19, 1998 at 17:41:39:
Hello
I have posted here before, I am a 26 year old female with two children. I have always been told, since I was 17, that I have low HDL. This concerns me since this is the good cholesterol. Also my father died at the age of 72 of an "Acute Myocardial Infarct". My mother is now 60, but at the age of 56 she had to have surgery to clear one of her carotid arteries. The doctor has always told her that she as a very healthy heart, considering her other health concerns (high BP, CAD) she now has to take medication for her BP and cholesterol level. With my family history in mind, I am now afraid that this GOOD cholesterol level of mine might bring me some trouble down the road (my level was only at 29 the last time it was checked 6 months ago) my overall Cholesterol was around 185. I realize there are many ways to lower the BAD cholesterol....but is there any way to bring the good one up? I have heard exercise...but is there any other way...or am I doomed to have problems with this for the rest of my life? Thank you so much for your help. Kristine :)
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Dear Kristine, thank you for your question. While I agree with some of what Dave wrote in his response to your question, you must remember that he is not a physician. If your LDL cholesterol is below 130, then your low HDL is not as much of a concern. However, it certainly helps to have a high HDL since this form of cholesterol is protective. Generally, we like to see the HDL cholesterol above 35. The most effective ways to improve your HDL cholesterol are exercise and a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Dietary supplements, vitamins, and alcohol have never been proven to raise the HDL cholesterol. If you are not exercising regularly, then I recommend that you start a regular aerobic exercise program for 30-45 minutes per day. At your age, it's unlikely that you've developed atherosclerosis in your coronary arteries, so if you work hard now to change your cholesterol profile, you should see sustained benefits down the road. Finally, it goes without saying that you should completely avoid all tobacco products.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Dear Kristine,
The good doctor meaning well has discounted the use of NATURAL remedys to combat rising chol. There have been countless studies which point to the exact opposite! the 2 most prescribed drugs for high chol. act in a very similar maner as does water sol. fiber!! This type of fiber (found in oat bran,figs,pectins)has been found by scientists to increase the output of bile, a digestive fluid made with cholestrol, in the stool. They feel that the liver then has to make more bile, using more cholestrol. That leaves less chol.to circulate throughout your arteries!! The use of fish oil (omega 3 ) has been found to reduce platelet stickyness as does vitamin e as does asprin. There has been SOME evedince that these supplements can help your triglyceride levels ( another test you should have done to access these perticular fats in your blood)Also remember exercise will only raise your hdl SLIGHTLY again genetics has a lot to do with this. Lowering your total chol. to around 150 total IS something that can be done. A vast number of studies have been done showing vegeterians having a lower chol. count than meat-eaters! with proper diet, exercise, and the potential protection of various suplements, you should be able to lower your total chol number. I suggest you get on the net or over to Barnes and Nobel and DO SOME RESEARCH!!! There is lots of useful info on the topic of chol. By the way, try to keep your total fat intake to around 20%, not the over stuffed number of 30% given as an RDA. PS, im NOT a doctor..just a research specialist in nutrition for about 15 years. If you want any specific studies info email me and i will be happy to support my position...Happy hollidays!!! and lay off that egg nog ( : Dave
In Reply to: Re: Concerns with GOOD Cholesterol posted by CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on December 19, 1998 at 17:41:39:
Hello
I have posted here before, I am a 26 year old female with two children. I have always been told, since I was 17, that I have low HDL. This concerns me since this is the good cholesterol. Also my father died at the age of 72 of an "Acute Myocardial Infarct". My mother is now 60, but at the age of 56 she had to have surgery to clear one of her carotid arteries. The doctor has always told her that she as a very healthy heart, considering her other health concerns (high BP, CAD) she now has to take medication for her BP and cholesterol level. With my family history in mind, I am now afraid that this GOOD cholesterol level of mine might bring me some trouble down the road (my level was only at 29 the last time it was checked 6 months ago) my overall Cholesterol was around 185. I realize there are many ways to lower the BAD cholesterol....but is there any way to bring the good one up? I have heard exercise...but is there any other way...or am I doomed to have problems with this for the rest of my life? Thank you so much for your help. Kristine :)
-
Dear Kristine, thank you for your question. While I agree with some of what Dave wrote in his response to your question, you must remember that he is not a physician. If your LDL cholesterol is below 130, then your low HDL is not as much of a concern. However, it certainly helps to have a high HDL since this form of cholesterol is protective. Generally, we like to see the HDL cholesterol above 35. The most effective ways to improve your HDL cholesterol are exercise and a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Dietary supplements, vitamins, and alcohol have never been proven to raise the HDL cholesterol. If you are not exercising regularly, then I recommend that you start a regular aerobic exercise program for 30-45 minutes per day. At your age, it's unlikely that you've developed atherosclerosis in your coronary arteries, so if you work hard now to change your cholesterol profile, you should see sustained benefits down the road. Finally, it goes without saying that you should completely avoid all tobacco products.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Dear Kristine,
The good doctor meaning well has discounted the use of NATURAL remedys to combat rising chol. There have been countless studies which point to the exact opposite! the 2 most prescribed drugs for high chol. act in a very similar maner as does water sol. fiber!! This type of fiber (found in oat bran,figs,pectins)has been found by scientists to increase the output of bile, a digestive fluid made with cholestrol, in the stool. They feel that the liver then has to make more bile, using more cholestrol. That leaves less chol.to circulate throughout your arteries!! The use of fish oil (omega 3 ) has been found to reduce platelet stickyness as does vitamin e as does asprin. There has been SOME evedince that these supplements can help your triglyceride levels ( another test you should have done to access these perticular fats in your blood)Also remember exercise will only raise your hdl SLIGHTLY again genetics has a lot to do with this. Lowering your total chol. to around 150 total IS something that can be done. A vast number of studies have been done showing vegeterians having a lower chol. count than meat-eaters! with proper diet, exercise, and the potential protection of various suplements, you should be able to lower your total chol number. I suggest you get on the net or over to Barnes and Nobel and DO SOME RESEARCH!!! There is lots of useful info on the topic of chol. By the way, try to keep your total fat intake to around 20%, not the over stuffed number of 30% given as an RDA. PS, im NOT a doctor..just a research specialist in nutrition for about 15 years. If you want any specific studies info email me and i will be happy to support my position...Happy hollidays!!! and lay off that egg nog ( : Dave
