Cholestrol question

[debbier]

I worked on my cholestrol for 6 weeks,  I started eating oatmeal, watching my fats, taking centrum cardio and added 600mg omegas 3's,  I dropped 6 lbs, I was really excited about my results but my cardiologist feels its not enough and I should be on meds.   I feel I should be given more time to make more adjustements.

My cholestrol 6 weeks ago         This week
Total  204                                  185
Total LDL  133                            124
hdl   34                                       33
vldl 37                                         32
trig   190                                     156

I think I made a really good change and I am now adding better quality plant sterols and increasing my omega 3
do you think its reasonable to keep trying without meds?

I am 37 and med history of hypo thyroid and PVC"s

Thanks
Debbie

[Sweetwaterguy]

    Your numbers are similar to what mine used to be before statins.  Just last week, my cholesterol was measured at 106.  Obviously I am getting a great result.
   Don't be surprised if your diet and exercise plan only go so far and your numbers stay pretty high.  Your genes play a powerful role and nothing is going to change that.
   However, I would recommend an excellent book, "The South Beach Heart Program," by Arthur Agatston, the author of the South Beach Diet.  Agatston is a renown cardiologist, not just a diet guy. In it he recommends "aggressive prevention" of heart disease.  Statins are part of his aggressive prevention program.  I would suggest talking with your doctor about aggressive prevention.  
  

[debbier]

Thanks for the feedback, there is no family history of heart disease,  I also take an aspirin every other day.

My cardio is sending me for a crp test if those levels come back high he will place me on statins and will not consider any other type of therapy.

[erijon]

Being a male, your recommended HDL is greater than 40, not 50. That's the recommendation for a woman. I agree with everything else said.........

[Encephalomalcia]

Do you have heart disease in your family history?  This would play an important role in if you should start medication to improve your cholesterol numbers.  When I dropped beef from my diet my LDL went down from 126 to 106 and when I stopped eating pork the LDL went down to 76.  Recommended LDL for myself is 100 or below.  Dark chocolate, salmon with the omega 3 raise HDL levels. Your HDL levels are low.  The HDL should be in the 50's.  Medication can help raise the HDL and lower the LDL.  If you do not want to start the statins yet, you may want to ask your doctor about Lecithin to help keep your arteries healthy and slippery so cholesterol does not stick. When arteries have inflammation, the cholesterol can stick and start building up.  Do you have any arthritis or any inflammation?  If so, you may want to ask your doctor if a low dose 81mg aspirin taken daily would be okay for you to help reduce inflammation.  Diet does help. On the other hand, vegetarians also get heart disease.  Good luck with the diet and let us know if your cholesterol levels continue to improve by diet alone.  

[erijon]

Your numbers are not too bad, your LDL is not over the recommended level of 130, but your HDL is well below the recommended level of 40. I can't imagine he wants to put you on statins, he may be thinking about something along the lines of Niacin to help increase your HDL which is necessary as it binds with LD to remove it from your blood.

What meds did he suggest?

Jon