Cholesterol and Triglycerides

[Gustavo]

Recently in a blood test: total cholesterol 284, triglycerides of 382, hdl 31, ldl 176.
After checking results with doctor, he recommended to take 20mg of Zacor. I weight 160 pounds, 5

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Gustavo,

Your numbers are great!.  You may wish to try and stop the zocor and see how your diet does alone.  As far as HDL, when your total cholesterol is this low your HDL will decrease.  You may wish to try some additional exercise and grape juice or small quantities of rred wine.

[Gustavo]

After 2 months with a strict diet and 20mg of zocor this are the results: Colesterol 115, triglicerides 200, hdl 33, vldl 40, ldl 42. My question is, Should I continue with zocor or can I stop it? Does 200 triglicerides can be improved? and why hdl was relatively low supposedly zocor should help increase hdl. Thanks for your information, and God bless you!!!

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear John,

Thank you for your comments.
You have provided excellent advice.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
doctor. 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.

[John]

Try the mediterranean diet, which is similar to the standard food pyramid with one important exception: the inclusion of a moderate amount of "good" fat. It turns out that for many people the inclusion of "good" fat is much more important than the elimination of all or even "bad" fats. Specifically, try adding 8-12 teaspoons of olive or canola or "right blend" oil to your cereal, soup, etc. daily. Also take around 6 fish oil tablets a day and 400 IU of vitamin E.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Gustavo,

If you have coronary disease, your LDL should be below 100.  if this is the case exercise and diet alone will not reduce your level enough.

If you have risk factors for CAD, but no CAD your LDL should be below 130.  It seems that you may be able to achieve this goal with weight reduction exercise and diet however, it may be unlikely.  You may wish to try this strategy for 3 months and then see how you do.  I wish you luck although most of my patients with aprofile such as yours are unable to obtain this 30% reduction in LDL.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

     Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
     doctor. 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.