Weird Cholesterol Numbers & High Blood Pressure

[Kydiana]

I just got back my most recent Lipid Panel and don't know if I should be worried. I am a 53 year old white female, non-smoker, no diabetes and with a BMI index of 21.5. I am on 3 blood pressure medications now to control what was urgent hypertension (186/116) last summer. My last lipid panel (fasting) came back with these results (which are consistent with the upward trend of these numbers over the past 7-8 years):

Cholesterol Total     278
TG                         151
HDL                       149

My doc seems to think that since the ratio is good I shouldn't worry about the High Total and what seems to be an unheard of high level HDL. Is he right?? I should mention that I have hed symptoms and some ambiguous lab results which appear to indicate I have SLE (lupus).
Diane R

[Barbarella]

Actually an LDL of 127 is still normal, up to 130 for people with NO heart disease.

If your doctor is not worried about your cholesterol I would not either if I were you.

As for your lab results maybe indicating lupus, I'd ask for another blood test to make sure.  Also, do a research on Google if lupus would effect cholesterol levels.

But I would trust my doctor.  If he is not worried I wouldn't be.  They do not fool around with cholesterol numbers, remember they like to put people on statins ASAP if the cholesterol is out of whack, if your doctor is not concerned I wouldn't be.

Or you could get a second opinion for your peace of mind.

Good luck!

[Kydiana]

Thanks--LDL is 127 which is high also but I don't know if that is counter-balanced by the way-high HDL and I can't find anything that addresses this type of situation. Those cholesterol level risk calculator websites won't even let me enter an HDL level which is over 100...arghh!  I've puzzled 'til my my puzzler is sore, as the Grinch (per Dr. Suess) would say..

[Barbarella]

What was your LDL? (bad cholesterol)

Your TG's are borderline (up to 150 is normal)

I agree that your HDL is high, but I'd think better high than being to low since HDL is the good cholesterol and to low HDL can also cause heart problems.