cholesterol

can anone tell me are these readings normal

total cholesterol       160 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol        103 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol         39 mg/dl
triglycerides               91
if not how can i improve

[debbier]

Your cholestrol look excellent to me, I would love that profile.

[Jerry_NJ]

Good, could be better.

If you don't exercise regularly (the HDL number suggests you do not) start a regular exercise program. This may push the HDL higher (yes, and maybe the total, but it is often accompanied with a lowering of LDL, another improvement) and it may also lower the Trig.

While all your numbers are in  the good range and if you are not on a statin drug, they are unusually good in my experience.  Still you ask "how to improve" and so I gave you one way.   There are other benefits to exercise besides cholesterol.

If what I said seems at odds with the goal of lowering you total cholesterol, it is a fact that HDL can't be too high.  I recall the guideline as HDL should be greater than 30 or a similar number, no upper limit.  l.

[erijon]

So much depends on your history. If you have no CAD and 2 or less risk factors for CAD, these are OK, but not great. You really need to increase your HDL as it should be over 40 for a male your age. Since you are young I assume you have no heart disease, but if you do or have many risk factors then the AHA recommends and LDL under 100.

The good news, HDL is easy to increase. As mentioned above, exercise is a great way, a min of 30 minutes a day, most days of the week at a rate of approx 75% of your max heart rate or above, with your doctor's approval. Also, over the counter supplements can help, especially Fish i and Niacin, but again get your doctor's approval before adding any supplement as he knows your history. It is important to increase you HDL because it is the HDL that binds with the LDL or bad cholesterol, to remove it from your system. Too little and the LDL may build up. Right now your LDL is a good number, but it can change so work on the HDL.

Hope this helps,

Jon

[erijon]

That should say fish oil, I can't type in the mornings...............

[gopo92]

Is there any particular exercise or any exercise would do?? I have nintendo wii. Can playing games on that help????

[erijon]

You should do something aerobic, like walking, jogging or biking. I don't know what kind of heart rate you can get on a Wii.

Jon

[Jerry_NJ]

Walking is something most of us can do... try to walk on the level 2 miles in under 30 minutes.  Then go from there to further and faster if you wish. Walking 3 miles in under an hour, much slower, would work but takes a lot of time.

To show there are "better" numbers out there, here are mine, albeit helped with statin.

Cholesterol = 133 (100 199)
Trig = 103 (0 149)
HDL = 63 (>39)
LDL = 49 (0 99)
LDL/HDL = 49/63 = 0.77

The numbers in parentheses are the recommended ranges.  I think an LDL/HDL under 3 is considered fine.  I didn't write that detail down.  As you can see mine is less than  1. Yours is 2.6.  I see your Trig are not higher than mine, so I have something to "shoot" for:)

[DeltaDawn23]

Jerry is right, you can walk slower, longer on a treadmill I'm told.  Also, with risk factors they want the LDL (lousy) cholesterol under 70, and the HDL (happy) cholesterol should be 39 or higher,  About the triglycerides -- taking Metformin for diabetes has brought mine down the lowest they've been.  Plant sterols in margarine (Promise Active light), fish oil will bring your numbers down.  Also weight loss.  I can't tolerate the statins -- the doctor is thinking of trying me on Zetia.  Good luck!