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Cholesterol Problem
I am a 67 year old female who is post-massive heart attack. Fortunate no heart damage, two stents and angioplasty. I am on the Ornish diet-no more than 17 grams of good fat, not more than 3 grams of saturated fat (usually less). Yet I am discouraged as my Lipids are as follows: Triglycerides 121; Total Cholesterol 176; HDL 72; LDL 80; and VLDL 24. My doctor raised my Zorcor to 80 mg per day as I was on 40mg. My ALT was 58 which is a concern. I don't know what I am doing wrong? Have a VAP and another lipid test scheduled in 3 months. It was suggested I take (Lovaza) fish oil also but I want to wait for the new Lipid test results. Presently I am on Plavix, Lopressor, Vasotec, 81 mg asprin and the Zocor. Please advise.
The very definition of a heart attack also referred to as a myocardial infarction is heart muscle damage and cell necrosis. If you HAVE NO heart damage, it is difficult to believe you have had a heart attack. There may be some confusion or misunderstanding!.
However, looking at your measurements your HDL is slightly high, and as you point out ALT 58 exceeds the normal high range of 48 U/L. However, normal values vary from laboratory to laboratory An informal survey of some laboratories indicates many laboratories find values from approximately 7 to 50 IU/L to be normal. My hospital laboratory lists normal for ALT at 10-60 IU/L.
ALT measuremnts are used to dx and treatment of certain lever diseases, but there can be falsely elevated ALT as the result of drugs, alchohol, aspirin and other substances that effect the liver. Vasotec is an ACE inhibitor and can have a bearing on the liver functionality. ALT is an emyzme made by the liver. When the liver is damaged or dying ALT leaks into the blood stream.
The following is a list of causes that can increase ALT:
viral hepatitis
Excessive alcohol intake/Alcoholic liver disease
Liver inflammation from medications and certain herbs,
Auto-immune hepatitis - a condition where a person's immune system mistakes the liver for an invader and attacks it,
Fatty liver- fat build -up in liver cells, called steatohepatitis when the fatty liver is inflamed
Inherited liver diseases
Liver tumors
Heart failure
However, looking at your measurements your HDL is slightly high, and as you point out ALT 58 exceeds the normal high range of 48 U/L. However, normal values vary from laboratory to laboratory An informal survey of some laboratories indicates many laboratories find values from approximately 7 to 50 IU/L to be normal. My hospital laboratory lists normal for ALT at 10-60 IU/L.
ALT measuremnts are used to dx and treatment of certain lever diseases, but there can be falsely elevated ALT as the result of drugs, alchohol, aspirin and other substances that effect the liver. Vasotec is an ACE inhibitor and can have a bearing on the liver functionality. ALT is an emyzme made by the liver. When the liver is damaged or dying ALT leaks into the blood stream.
The following is a list of causes that can increase ALT:
viral hepatitis
Excessive alcohol intake/Alcoholic liver disease
Liver inflammation from medications and certain herbs,
Auto-immune hepatitis - a condition where a person's immune system mistakes the liver for an invader and attacks it,
Fatty liver- fat build -up in liver cells, called steatohepatitis when the fatty liver is inflamed
Inherited liver diseases
Liver tumors
Heart failure
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