Aa
HDL decreasing
Since I have increased my statin dose, my HDL level has kept going down along with my LDL. My latest numbers were:Cholesterol-92 LDL-51 HDL 31 and Triglycerides-49.. Before I increased my dose in order to get my LDL below 70, my HDL was anywhere from 47-63. I continue to exercise and I have now started Niaspan.
My question is:In the recent study which talked about reversing cad in some patients using 80 mg dose of a statin, did the HDL fall as the LDL dropped into the 50-60 level ? Thank you.
My question is:In the recent study which talked about reversing cad in some patients using 80 mg dose of a statin, did the HDL fall as the LDL dropped into the 50-60 level ? Thank you.
You know, after I read your last post, I thought of something. Have you ever been tested for Positional Orthostatic Tachycadia Syndrome (P.O.T.S.) What happens is that when you stand up, your heart rate increases more than usual to compensate for the blood pressure shift going from sitting to standing. There's a good web-site that describes it better than I can (:
It's http://www.potsplace.com/pots_an_overview.htm
Just a thought. I would definitely follow through with making a cardiologist appt. and get some testing done to make you feel better and hopefully less anxious. Mention the P.O.T.S. to the cardio doctor and see what they say. It's usually fixable by drinking lots of water (I mean A LOT) and adding table salt to your diet. Hope you find some relief and answers. Best wishes to you and enjoy your little ones!
It's http://www.potsplace.com/pots_an_overview.htm
Just a thought. I would definitely follow through with making a cardiologist appt. and get some testing done to make you feel better and hopefully less anxious. Mention the P.O.T.S. to the cardio doctor and see what they say. It's usually fixable by drinking lots of water (I mean A LOT) and adding table salt to your diet. Hope you find some relief and answers. Best wishes to you and enjoy your little ones!
Thank you so much for responding. The ribcage issue has caused me so much grief and anxiety that it has rolled over into heart issues with me.I have a wonderful chiropractor that says he believes that I have shifted my ribcage and severely strained my muscles from carrying my little ones. I am a very tall and thin gal, so probably all that weight on my left side wasn't such a good thing.
My tachy events come mostly at night. I cannot lay on my left side at all. It strains too much and then when I roll over to my back...I get a spasm in my chest which leads to the tachy. It occurs just on my back now. I always feel the spasm before my heart races. My chiropracter explained that when I have a spasm, it draws the muscle near the heart. He said the heart is a very sensitive organ and doesn't like any changes, so it responds.
Wed. night I had 4 tachy episodes and did not sleep. My anxiety over it all peaked and I am now taking something for the anxiety. Probably needed to sooner but I am so afraid of drugs.
I agree that I need to stop taking my pulse. It is not as high as alot of peoples are on this board, but again my anxiety causes me to think about it constantly. I am trying to get an appointment to see the cardiologist so we can do all the tests. I have never had a stress test or holter moniter. I guess I need to do this for peace of mind.
Since taking the anxiety medicine, I have noticed that my heart rate is in the mid 80's to high 90's. When I stand up and walk around it goes to 120-138. Isn't that a little high? Is it natural though for your heart rate to go up when you stand and move? Thanks for taking time out to reply to me. Just to hear from someone is reassuring in and of itself. Amy
My tachy events come mostly at night. I cannot lay on my left side at all. It strains too much and then when I roll over to my back...I get a spasm in my chest which leads to the tachy. It occurs just on my back now. I always feel the spasm before my heart races. My chiropracter explained that when I have a spasm, it draws the muscle near the heart. He said the heart is a very sensitive organ and doesn't like any changes, so it responds.
Wed. night I had 4 tachy episodes and did not sleep. My anxiety over it all peaked and I am now taking something for the anxiety. Probably needed to sooner but I am so afraid of drugs.
I agree that I need to stop taking my pulse. It is not as high as alot of peoples are on this board, but again my anxiety causes me to think about it constantly. I am trying to get an appointment to see the cardiologist so we can do all the tests. I have never had a stress test or holter moniter. I guess I need to do this for peace of mind.
Since taking the anxiety medicine, I have noticed that my heart rate is in the mid 80's to high 90's. When I stand up and walk around it goes to 120-138. Isn't that a little high? Is it natural though for your heart rate to go up when you stand and move? Thanks for taking time out to reply to me. Just to hear from someone is reassuring in and of itself. Amy
Thanks for your comment. They were more relevant to my question than the generic response from the doc. Actually, I am on 10 mg of crestor but my LDL is in the range that the study reached. Thanks and keep hiking.
You might consider that your Lipitor dose is too high. Pulling TC down below 100 might be a bit too agressive, even for someone with severe CAD. You still do have a good HDL/TC ratio however.
Perhaps you could cut back your dosage of Lipitor now that you also are on Niaspan which also acts against LDL somewhat.
I would say that if your TC was 140 and you could get your HDL consistently over 50 for the long term, and you exercise daily and have relatively good eating habits, that you would see good plaque stabilization and some regression over the next few years.
There may be a good reason for LDL and driving it down too far may not be wise. I wouldn't go above 40MG on the Lipitor with those numbers and you probably good keep a great lipid profile with a 20MG lipitor plus the Niaspan.
I do a cocktail of 40MG Lipitor, 1500MG Niaspan, and 3900MG of Welchol. Even though I eat like a pig and drink like a sailor on leave, I've kept a great lipid profile, lived past my expiration date, and still feel good 7 years past my M.I. with a totally blocked RCA, a ruptured plaque in my Left Main, and a 70-90% ostial occlusion of the circumflex with no stents or bypass.
I hiked 8 miles with 1,800' of elevation gain Monday and felt fine. Go figure - the drugs must work, but I'm sure that I will pay eventually if I don't change my evil ways.
Perhaps you could cut back your dosage of Lipitor now that you also are on Niaspan which also acts against LDL somewhat.
I would say that if your TC was 140 and you could get your HDL consistently over 50 for the long term, and you exercise daily and have relatively good eating habits, that you would see good plaque stabilization and some regression over the next few years.
There may be a good reason for LDL and driving it down too far may not be wise. I wouldn't go above 40MG on the Lipitor with those numbers and you probably good keep a great lipid profile with a 20MG lipitor plus the Niaspan.
I do a cocktail of 40MG Lipitor, 1500MG Niaspan, and 3900MG of Welchol. Even though I eat like a pig and drink like a sailor on leave, I've kept a great lipid profile, lived past my expiration date, and still feel good 7 years past my M.I. with a totally blocked RCA, a ruptured plaque in my Left Main, and a 70-90% ostial occlusion of the circumflex with no stents or bypass.
I hiked 8 miles with 1,800' of elevation gain Monday and felt fine. Go figure - the drugs must work, but I'm sure that I will pay eventually if I don't change my evil ways.
Hi Amy,
Wow, I've totally been where you are now. After my 3rd baby I went hyperthyroid with very annoying heart-rates (180's) with little to no exertion. Mine was a post-partum issue but I still had the high heart-rates. My dad had the same issue with his so it's seems hereditary. Anyhow, his would go up to 250 bpm (for years) and he's still here! His heart didn't enlarge or anything from the high heart-rates. He and I are on beta-blockers to keep the heart from beating too fast. I'm on Atenolol, on of the oldest for tachycardia and it works well for me.
I too suffer with those annoying pvc's and pac's. Not fun but also now they're more like friends, I've had them since I was about 19 (I'm 33 now). I'm sure you've been told, just like the rest of us, that in a structurally normal heart these little buggers are nothing to worry about. Of course they feel like something when it happens. I've made multiplt trips in the past to the ER because of them!
I will say this, it is not a good idea to keep taking your pulse. All it will do is create more anxiety for you. I say this from experience, I'd bought a blood pressure cuff and was constantly checking my bp and pulse with it and all it did was make me more anxious about the numbers.
About your thyroid, was it causing any hyper or hypo symptoms? I'm sure you know that hyperthyroid causes lots of tachycardia. Also, about your rib-cage injury...for some people when they have trauma to the rib-cage area, a condition known as costachondritis can arise. Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches your ribs to your sternum. I too have this and it hurts, enough that I've gone to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack! It feels like cramps and spasms of pain right over my heart. Not the best place to be feeling pain, is it?
Your heart-rates don't sound that high to me. Yes, anxiety and fear will absolutely make them go higher. If you've had a good cardio work-up by a cardiologist, I wouldn't worry then. Easier said then done, I know. You are in good company on this forum too. Many many people have very similar problems and deal with the anxiety it creates. If you're really worried maybe ask your doctor about wearing a holter monitor to actually see how fast it goes and for how long. Also, do a search for tachycardia and anxiety on the forum. Best wishes to you and enjoy your 2 little ones (:
Wow, I've totally been where you are now. After my 3rd baby I went hyperthyroid with very annoying heart-rates (180's) with little to no exertion. Mine was a post-partum issue but I still had the high heart-rates. My dad had the same issue with his so it's seems hereditary. Anyhow, his would go up to 250 bpm (for years) and he's still here! His heart didn't enlarge or anything from the high heart-rates. He and I are on beta-blockers to keep the heart from beating too fast. I'm on Atenolol, on of the oldest for tachycardia and it works well for me.
I too suffer with those annoying pvc's and pac's. Not fun but also now they're more like friends, I've had them since I was about 19 (I'm 33 now). I'm sure you've been told, just like the rest of us, that in a structurally normal heart these little buggers are nothing to worry about. Of course they feel like something when it happens. I've made multiplt trips in the past to the ER because of them!
I will say this, it is not a good idea to keep taking your pulse. All it will do is create more anxiety for you. I say this from experience, I'd bought a blood pressure cuff and was constantly checking my bp and pulse with it and all it did was make me more anxious about the numbers.
About your thyroid, was it causing any hyper or hypo symptoms? I'm sure you know that hyperthyroid causes lots of tachycardia. Also, about your rib-cage injury...for some people when they have trauma to the rib-cage area, a condition known as costachondritis can arise. Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches your ribs to your sternum. I too have this and it hurts, enough that I've gone to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack! It feels like cramps and spasms of pain right over my heart. Not the best place to be feeling pain, is it?
Your heart-rates don't sound that high to me. Yes, anxiety and fear will absolutely make them go higher. If you've had a good cardio work-up by a cardiologist, I wouldn't worry then. Easier said then done, I know. You are in good company on this forum too. Many many people have very similar problems and deal with the anxiety it creates. If you're really worried maybe ask your doctor about wearing a holter monitor to actually see how fast it goes and for how long. Also, do a search for tachycardia and anxiety on the forum. Best wishes to you and enjoy your 2 little ones (:
Hi Everyone. I'm posting this question for "AnxiousAmy." She wasn't sure how to cut and paste her question which appears a ways down on the board. Hope you guys can help.
"This is my first time to post on this forum, although I have read many, many articles here. Please forgive me if I have posted on the wrong page.
I am 37 and right now I am suffering with anxiety about my heart. When I was 23 I was diagnosed with sinus tach. with occasional pvc's. I never thought a thing about it before or after my diagnosis. The Dr. told me that it was common and to stay off of caffine. I went on with my life just as before never giving it a 2nd thought. I have never had any symptoms and after about 2 years from the diagnosis the pvc's seemed to have stopped. (I had them since the age of 14.)
I have had 2 children since then. Blood pressure good. Had a benign tumor removed from my thyroid. Levels are good. No one has ever made mention of my high heart rate. Then last year I had an injury to my ribcage that to this day is still causing me pain and spasms.Since this has happened I have been focused more on my heart. One of the spasms scared me so bad that I went to the er. They did all the "heart attack" work-up and said I was fine. My ekg was good. Had an echo done 2 weeks before and it was good except for a tiny leakage in one of the valves. So small the dr. said it wasn't worth mentioning. Just recently I have noticed the pvc's are back.(Due to stress?)
I am obssessed with taking my pulse. I have a high heart rate. Resting it is usually between 76 (coming out of sleep)and 96 as I sit here and type. But when I stand up and move around it goes up. 107 to sometimes 120. I would never know this physically if I wasn't taking my pulse. Does this sound like tachy or ist? When I am nervous it will of course jump up in the 100's, but falls down to the 90's when "the thrill is gone." I do not get dizzy or light headed. I do not even know that my heart is beating so fast unless I take my pulse. Now I am so anxious all the time that my heart rate is going over 100. At Wal-mart pushing a buggy...117. I freak out which I know just makes matters worse.
I do not know anyone else with a high heart rate. I feel so alone in my fears. Do I need to be concerned about this? Is this worth worrying over? Can someone please help me calm down over this? I have read that many of you have tach's at 120 or greater. Are these episodes or your normal heart rate? If I have a rate at 110-120 when I am walking around daily, will this cause heart damage in the future? I try to assure myself by the 2 echos done 12 years apart. Both normal! I am tired of being anxious over this." AnxiousAmy
"This is my first time to post on this forum, although I have read many, many articles here. Please forgive me if I have posted on the wrong page.
I am 37 and right now I am suffering with anxiety about my heart. When I was 23 I was diagnosed with sinus tach. with occasional pvc's. I never thought a thing about it before or after my diagnosis. The Dr. told me that it was common and to stay off of caffine. I went on with my life just as before never giving it a 2nd thought. I have never had any symptoms and after about 2 years from the diagnosis the pvc's seemed to have stopped. (I had them since the age of 14.)
I have had 2 children since then. Blood pressure good. Had a benign tumor removed from my thyroid. Levels are good. No one has ever made mention of my high heart rate. Then last year I had an injury to my ribcage that to this day is still causing me pain and spasms.Since this has happened I have been focused more on my heart. One of the spasms scared me so bad that I went to the er. They did all the "heart attack" work-up and said I was fine. My ekg was good. Had an echo done 2 weeks before and it was good except for a tiny leakage in one of the valves. So small the dr. said it wasn't worth mentioning. Just recently I have noticed the pvc's are back.(Due to stress?)
I am obssessed with taking my pulse. I have a high heart rate. Resting it is usually between 76 (coming out of sleep)and 96 as I sit here and type. But when I stand up and move around it goes up. 107 to sometimes 120. I would never know this physically if I wasn't taking my pulse. Does this sound like tachy or ist? When I am nervous it will of course jump up in the 100's, but falls down to the 90's when "the thrill is gone." I do not get dizzy or light headed. I do not even know that my heart is beating so fast unless I take my pulse. Now I am so anxious all the time that my heart rate is going over 100. At Wal-mart pushing a buggy...117. I freak out which I know just makes matters worse.
I do not know anyone else with a high heart rate. I feel so alone in my fears. Do I need to be concerned about this? Is this worth worrying over? Can someone please help me calm down over this? I have read that many of you have tach's at 120 or greater. Are these episodes or your normal heart rate? If I have a rate at 110-120 when I am walking around daily, will this cause heart damage in the future? I try to assure myself by the 2 echos done 12 years apart. Both normal! I am tired of being anxious over this." AnxiousAmy
Hello,
The recent study using 80 mg of Lipator (atorvastin) showed slight regression of plaque by intravascular ultrasound.
Everybody differs a bit on how they react to statins. Statins usually raise the HDL slightly. I would not panic from a single test with a lower HDL. The most important goal is to get your LDL down -- the statin has done that nicely. Just keep up with the exercise and diet and you will do fine. If are living right and taking your medications, don't stress about the number.
Good luck and thanks for posting.
The recent study using 80 mg of Lipator (atorvastin) showed slight regression of plaque by intravascular ultrasound.
Everybody differs a bit on how they react to statins. Statins usually raise the HDL slightly. I would not panic from a single test with a lower HDL. The most important goal is to get your LDL down -- the statin has done that nicely. Just keep up with the exercise and diet and you will do fine. If are living right and taking your medications, don't stress about the number.
Good luck and thanks for posting.
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