Cholesterol

[eccc whippet]

Sorry to jump in on this thread but had mine tested a few weeks ago at work and got 3.37 which I assumed was good but at what level does it become dangerously low if that's even possible?

you need to understand cholesterol...i know very little about it other than what i have read or told by the doctor.

 

this is the reference range attached to my report 

 

cholesterol total ...2.8 - 4.9 mmol/l

triglycerides ...0.5 - 1.6 mmol/l

hdl cholesterol ...1.0 - 1.6 mmol/l

ldl cholesterol ...1.6 -2.9 mmol/l

non hdl ....0.8 - 3.7 mmol/l

 

it is said that the bad cholesterol is ldl...however if your triglyceride level is high it is a bad sign.

 

the only time i have heard of low cholesterol being an issue is if your hdl is low...apparently it is good to have (not high) a higher level hdl.

 

my advice on cholesterol is about as useful as giving Sagan tips on cycling

[JannievanZyl]

I've been swiftly put on a statin after my blood test, went for another one and which indicated LdL at 5.1. Not happy with doctor though so will be going elsewhere. Been on it now for a month and find it makes me tired or is it just me?

One of the best documented side effects of Statins is muscle pain. Serious muscle pain.

 

If you're not a middle age (white) male with a *previous CVD event*, there is NO proof Statins will help you. Zero, zilch.

[JannievanZyl]

you need to understand cholesterol...i know very little about it other than what i have read or told by the doctor.

 

this is the reference range attached to my report 

 

cholesterol total ...2.8 - 4.9 mmol/l

triglycerides ...0.5 - 1.6 mmol/l

hdl cholesterol ...1.0 - 1.6 mmol/l

ldl cholesterol ...1.6 -2.9 mmol/l

non hdl ....0.8 - 3.7 mmol/l

 

it is said that the bad cholesterol is ldl...however if your triglyceride level is high it is a bad sign.

 

the only time i have heard of low cholesterol being an issue is if your hdl is low...apparently it is good to have (not high) a higher level hdl.

 

my advice on cholesterol is about as useful as giving Sagan tips on cycling

Blood lipids is not difficult to understand:

 

1. Ignore LDL. There are exceptions, see my previous post. But for most, it tells you more about the phase of the moon than your health.

2. HDL - important. Get it over 1.7

3. Triglycerides - this is the crucial measure. You need this under 1. 

 

The most important measure that can predict future CVD is Trigs/HDL. you want this under 0.8. The lower, the better.

 

If you really worried about CVD, do a Calcium Artery Score (CAC). Anything else is mere speculation. CAC will tell you whats really happening in your arteries. Not some doctor's opinion based on his Statin rep's sales pitch.