What could cause a 88 point increase in my cholesterol?

[mistymoo77]

What could cause an 88 point jump in my cholesterol reading??? I had a total cholesterol of 118 in April of 2010 and now in September I have a overall 206 reading. I have a horrible maternal history of health problems and as a matter of fact my mother just passed away in June after just turning 52. There was no autopsy because she had 3 prior heart attacks, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bipass surgeries in her legs, heart diesease, diabetes, a brain aneurysm, and was a heavy smoker ect...  My grandmother passed away from un-angina related illness in April. My husband lost his job also right before my mother died - so I have been under the largest amount of stress of my life. Could stress cause cholesterol to jump?? I am 32 and overweight but since April I have began a heathy lifestyle of excercise and better food choices. Why would my cholesterol jump when I have made improvements?? And according to my previous result (april) I was told by my doctor that even with my risk factors I would NOT develop high cholesterol within the next ten years- well that was a big lie!  I just went today for a retest and to test my thyroid as well because a thryroid abnormality could change cholestrol readings- I found out by my own research.  What else is a possibility?
My numbers are:


Total Cholesterol- 206   HDL-31   LDL 153   Cholesterol/HDL Ratio 6.6   Triglycerides 110 and my glucose 99

[Flycaster305]

It might be as simple as a faulty test.  Are you certain you fasted properly?  I'm a nighttime grazer in my sleep, and I had a very odd test a couple of years ago, my total cholesterol increased unexplainably.  I was retested and my wife tied the pantry doors and the refrigerator doors shut the night before, and I tested fine.  For whatever reason, I sleepwalk and munch small amounts of stuff, probably enough to screw up blood tests, so we secure the doors to food the night before the tests.  Just a thought.

[LivingInHope]

I have not heard that stress can raise cholesterol, though I know the body makes its own and heredity can play a factor.  Some people naturally produce a lot, some a little.

From your numbers, I can see that your HDL (think H for happy) is lower than what you want it to be and you are exercising, which is something that can help raise that.  That HDL, they believe helps fight the bad cholesterol.  I've heard cutting way back on sugar can help with triglycerides.  I see from your blood glucose level, which I take it is fasting, since that's what one does for a lipid panel, is at the top end of normal, so that may be something you really want to focus on, though your triclycerides level looks like it is really good!  

I have an article from Fox news where research shows calcium supplements versus getting calcium in diet may not be as great as has been touted- Ian Reid, professor of medicine in New Zealand's University of Auckland indicates that calcium absorbs in the body very slowly when it comes from natural food sources, but supplements can push the blood calcium to the top end of normal.  He says that higher calcium levels in the blood might lead to plaque formation in blood vessels.  That puts you at risk for stroke, heart attack and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.  So if you are taking calcium supplements, you might ask the doctor about cutting back on that and getting more of your calcium naturally.  

There is a butter like spread you can put on your toast, potatoes, etc. that has plant sterols that can help lower your bad cholesterol.  There is also a product called Cholest-off you can take if you want to purchase it- I think it's Naturemade brand.  Pistachios, I recently learned can also help with lowering bad cholesterol!  Oat bran or oat meal is supposed to help, as well as almonds and garlic too.

You might look into doing a heart healthy Mediterranean diet, if you aren't already on it.  See PM for more info on that.