High triglycerides & HDL cholesterol

[crazylana37]

My question is what percentage am i for heart disease or a heart attack? I am 37 years old, a divorced mom of 3 daughters ages: 16, 14, & 12, also a smoker, & a vegetarian, I just got my blood test back that i took in july 2009 and it is really making me nervous because my TRIGLYCERIDES were really high @ (249), my HDL CHOLESTEROL is (26) which is low, my LDL CHOLESTEROL is (82) which is in range. Also, my CHOL/HDLC RATIO is (6.1) which says it's high, and also my GLUCOSE is (101) which is high. I am not a diabetic but i think i may be on the verge of getting it because i am a little overweight. According to my doctor, he says that i am healthy but i need to be sure, so can you please help me out because i don't want to die at a young age.

[joanincarolina]

You wouldn't be posting if you were not concerned. Smoking has to stop. It has a direct relationship on your entire vascular system, including your best pump, your heart and affecting the tiny microvessels in your heart muscle. Your lipid ( cholesterol) numbers and being a women can change your profile....you need to decrease your risk by managing your lipids and controlling glucose which indicates some disturbance in carb metabolism. As for your doctor saying you're healthy???? Well, I'd follow whatever instruction he gave you about smoking and lipids and glucose, then if he hasn't given you a statin,or PRESCRIPTION fish oil, then go back to him or find another doctor more tuned into your current health status.  

[Flycaster305]

Jon is right, quit smoking.  It's not easy, but millions of us have.  My Grandfather referred to cigarettes as 'pimp sticks', and once I made the decision to quit, I kept that word in mind.  It helped.

The ratio of your LDL and HDL is wonderful, the HDL is pushing the LDL out of your arteries, and I'm betting your arteries are clean.  I'd mix in a gram of Omega 3 fish oils, a gram twice a day, and I'm betting you will see your Tri's go lower.  Diabetes should be, in my opinion, your biggest worry.  Diabetes and heart disease go hand in hand.  Keep us informed.

[erijon]

I would be less concered with the tri's and concentrate on your HDL. Your tri's are not terribly high, just cut back on the empty carbs like bread, pasta and sugars. Your HDL should be over 50. This is your good cholesterol which binds with LDL and tri's to take them back to your liver to be removed. Daily exercise is a good way to raise HDL or you can ask your doctor about niacin. Also, QUIT SMOKING, that's the best thing you can do to add years to your life. I doubt if you've done much damage yet, but now is the time to start.

Good luck!

Jon