cholesterol - what worked for you?
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
Winning the genetic lottery worked for me. Extensive periods of physical inactivity, far from ideal eating, and being way overweight all contributed to by long stressful work hours never caused my cholesterol indices to be anything other than excellent. Those factors may contribute to or even be causal of cholesterol issues in some, but for whatever reason, they haven't been in me.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Northwoods, Wisconsin
Posts: 702
Bikes: Holland Exogrid & Holland HC
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 98 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
At the time of my first heart attack my total cholesterol was 180, but higher LDL than HDL (not desirable). Started statins (Vytoren) and my total cholesterol was lowered to 95, but still higher LDL. Added Niaspan and the ratio of LDLHDL improved. I now take generic lipitor and total cholesterol hovers in the 100-115 range with good ratios. Simvastatin did not have the same results of lowering total C., Crestor worked but is expensive, and for now I am sticking with generic lipitor and Niaspan. Before the second heart attack my total C. was less than 100, I was exercising every day, I just had a stress test that showed I was in the top 1% for folks my age range and I still ended up in surgery with more stents ............ sometimes you just can't outlive your genetics.
#28
Senior Member
Interesting. My diet is not so restrictive on carbs. I generally run 20%prot, 35-40%fat, 40-45 carb. I eat lost of beans, and get most of my fat from nuts, olive oil and avocados. The beans and vegetables have lots of carbs, as does the 12-15 grams of sugar or honey I put in my morning coffee. I eat no feedlot beef. I also avoid food-like substances, including milk-like substances ("creamers"), and saccharide-like substances in my morning coffee.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 7,639
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
Mentioned: 146 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 392 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
31 Posts
For me: weight loss (216 to 185) and improving fitness (resting HR from 90-100 to 45-50).
Those two eliminated a whole host of ailments - cholesterol, high blood pressure, gout attacks, kidney stones, pre-diabetic - they all went away.
Those two eliminated a whole host of ailments - cholesterol, high blood pressure, gout attacks, kidney stones, pre-diabetic - they all went away.
#30
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,531
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3886 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
Losing weight works for almost everyone, the more the better. Interventional studies show that the diet used to accomplish the weight loss is not nearly as important as the weight loss itself. Whatever works, IOW. I dropped my cholesterol and improved all my lipids simply by losing about 13 lbs., no change in diet or exercise other than eating less. I was already exercising plenty. Smaller portions is what I do. If you get your BMI well below 25, that should do it. If you're already down there, that's a different problem.
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,706
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5779 Post(s)
Liked 2,576 Times
in
1,427 Posts
Lipitor has the same side effects as other statins. Possible muscle pain or weakness. Some people do better on it that others, and everybody is different.
I don't know what your situation is, and what questions your doctor asked, but IME many doctors can be mentally lazy, and formulaic. If you have high cholesterol, they put you on a statin, and give you the canned lecture about diet and exercise. That's fine as far as it goes, and many people do have high cholesterol because of diet, lack of exercise, and the resulting overweight. But many perfectly fit people who exercise, eat well, aren't overweight, and have very low body fat also have high serum cholesterol.
So the key is to ask plenty of questions, and work with the doctor to experiment and find the least invasive (drugs) program that works for you. That may be very different than what works for anyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if your doctor pushes hard on a statin, and that's probably smart to start. But once your numbers are OK, then you want to find the best way to keep them there.
BTW- here's something you may find enlightening on a related subject.
I don't know what your situation is, and what questions your doctor asked, but IME many doctors can be mentally lazy, and formulaic. If you have high cholesterol, they put you on a statin, and give you the canned lecture about diet and exercise. That's fine as far as it goes, and many people do have high cholesterol because of diet, lack of exercise, and the resulting overweight. But many perfectly fit people who exercise, eat well, aren't overweight, and have very low body fat also have high serum cholesterol.
So the key is to ask plenty of questions, and work with the doctor to experiment and find the least invasive (drugs) program that works for you. That may be very different than what works for anyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if your doctor pushes hard on a statin, and that's probably smart to start. But once your numbers are OK, then you want to find the best way to keep them there.
BTW- here's something you may find enlightening on a related subject.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
Lipitor has the same side effects as other statins. Possible muscle pain or weakness. Some people do better on it that others, and everybody is different.
I don't know what your situation is, and what questions your doctor asked, but IME many doctors can be mentally lazy, and formulaic. If you have high cholesterol, they put you on a statin, and give you the canned lecture about diet and exercise. That's fine as far as it goes, and many people do have high cholesterol because of diet, lack of exercise, and the resulting overweight. But many perfectly fit people who exercise, eat well, aren't overweight, and have very low body fat also have high serum cholesterol.
So the key is to ask plenty of questions, and work with the doctor to experiment and find the least invasive (drugs) program that works for you. That may be very different than what works for anyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if your doctor pushes hard on a statin, and that's probably smart to start. But once your numbers are OK, then you want to find the best way to keep them there.
BTW- here's something you may find enlightening on a related subject.
I don't know what your situation is, and what questions your doctor asked, but IME many doctors can be mentally lazy, and formulaic. If you have high cholesterol, they put you on a statin, and give you the canned lecture about diet and exercise. That's fine as far as it goes, and many people do have high cholesterol because of diet, lack of exercise, and the resulting overweight. But many perfectly fit people who exercise, eat well, aren't overweight, and have very low body fat also have high serum cholesterol.
So the key is to ask plenty of questions, and work with the doctor to experiment and find the least invasive (drugs) program that works for you. That may be very different than what works for anyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if your doctor pushes hard on a statin, and that's probably smart to start. But once your numbers are OK, then you want to find the best way to keep them there.
BTW- here's something you may find enlightening on a related subject.
#34
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
rumrun
I have had no side effects from taking Lipitor at all. I get a blood test about twice a year, and it shows no problems. I know that some people cant take a statin drug, my wife is one of them.
I have had no side effects from taking Lipitor at all. I get a blood test about twice a year, and it shows no problems. I know that some people cant take a statin drug, my wife is one of them.
#35
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: North Granby, CT
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am also lucky and have had no side effects in over 15 years. Same deal here blood test twice a year. I have three family members that had to stop taking Lipitor due to leg muscle pain.
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
and when should I get a followup test to see if its working? 1 yr? 6mos? sooner?
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 228
Bikes: Trek Verve 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My Cholesterol was well over 200 but is now down to 125. I did this through a diet of lean meats and vegetables, biking, loosing 60 pounds and Lipitor. At my next appointment I am going to talk with my doctor about stopping the Lipitor.
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,706
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5779 Post(s)
Liked 2,576 Times
in
1,427 Posts
The internet and forums are decent places to get general info, but humans are all different and specific info has to be tailored to the individual.
Generally doctors do followups early and often to see if the new regimen is working, then back off once everything is stable. By that logic, you'd want close monitoring again when you start making changes.
The most important thing is to have good dialog with the doctor. Make sure he knows you're active and wish to remain so, and set goals and strategies based on your individual needs. ASK QUESTIONS (the ones you're asking here) and don't leave until you have answers. Some doctors don't like patients who ask too many questions, but the good ones prefer patients to be more involved in their own care. So if your doctor doesn't want to give you enough time or attention, find a new one.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 01-29-14 at 04:58 PM.
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Allentown, PA
Posts: 331
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Roubaix Elite, 2009 Specialized Hard Rock 29er, 1989 Cannondale w/Campy Nuovo Record Components (mostly anway, now just on the trainer) and Easy Racer Recumbent (home made from plans)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I guess that this might start a bit of a controversy but have any of you read and believe or don't believe the book "The Cholestrol Myth"? Among other things they say that you can have too low cholestrol numbers. They also say that the numbers them self are not all that important. They like the triglycerides to HDL ratio better than HDL/LDL.
Bill
Bill
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,706
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5779 Post(s)
Liked 2,576 Times
in
1,427 Posts
I guess that this might start a bit of a controversy but have any of you read and believe or don't believe the book "The Cholestrol Myth"? Among other things they say that you can have too low cholestrol numbers. They also say that the numbers them self are not all that important. They like the triglycerides to HDL ratio better than HDL/LDL.
Bill
Bill
As pointed out, many feel that triglycerides may be as important, if not more important than cholesterol, and there's also data supporting histamines and radicals as important factors. Th science continues to evolve, and keep in mind that it wasn't that many years ago that there's wasn't the separation of HDLP and LDLP as being good and bad.
One of the problems with health science is that there's a tendency to try to make decisions based on incomplete understanding of how things work. It wasn't all that long ago that the "experts" urged that folks move away from saturated fats like butter to less saturated fats like those in margarine, whet we now call transfats. That turned out to be brilliant advice.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#41
Senior Member
Living things do need cholesterol. Our steroidal hormones are based on it, and our cell membranes need it.
That's an interesting point on the correlation vs. cause-and-effect. There are too many people who don't differentiate between the two very well, and some of them are authors of published studies.
That said, I'm betting that Cholesterol is just like all those other things that our body absolutely needs, yet too much of which is bad for us. Things like water and oxygen...
That's an interesting point on the correlation vs. cause-and-effect. There are too many people who don't differentiate between the two very well, and some of them are authors of published studies.
That said, I'm betting that Cholesterol is just like all those other things that our body absolutely needs, yet too much of which is bad for us. Things like water and oxygen...
#43
Semper Fi
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,942
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 358 Times
in
241 Posts
LongT, my PCP said that I actually have too low a "good" cholesterol level now. I wasn't put on any statin or other medication for the levels I reached, came very close. When I developed the Stage 3B kidney failure it stopped him from prescribing anything for cholesterol, and it wasn't exceptionally high, thankfully. The strict nutrition plan I was put on and the amount of exercise I began lowered everything to my current levels.
My M-I-L was put on a statin a few years back, she did not handle it well at all and after talking with her doctor she was taken off of the statin and uses nutrition to keep things under control. My wife is in the same class so it may well be genetic.
I am grateful for the improvement with careful nutrition and cycling/exercise. I have a family history of heart disease, my father and grandfather passed away young from heart attacks, my grandmother had a stroke young, too. I will not get back in the same boat with obesity (hit 278lbs), poor nutrition and sloth, the kidney disease is scary stuff, too.
Bill
My M-I-L was put on a statin a few years back, she did not handle it well at all and after talking with her doctor she was taken off of the statin and uses nutrition to keep things under control. My wife is in the same class so it may well be genetic.
I am grateful for the improvement with careful nutrition and cycling/exercise. I have a family history of heart disease, my father and grandfather passed away young from heart attacks, my grandmother had a stroke young, too. I will not get back in the same boat with obesity (hit 278lbs), poor nutrition and sloth, the kidney disease is scary stuff, too.
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#44
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,972
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
about 20 yrs ago it was 208 - told it was a little high. last week found out it is now:
Chol 257
HDL 52
Triglyceride 152
Direct LDL 181
Chol/HDL 4.9
Rel Risk Ratio 1.0
Letter from Doc says try exercise and diet but otherwise start Lipitor
suggestions? personal experiences?
Chol 257
HDL 52
Triglyceride 152
Direct LDL 181
Chol/HDL 4.9
Rel Risk Ratio 1.0
Letter from Doc says try exercise and diet but otherwise start Lipitor
suggestions? personal experiences?
Chol 277
HDL 38
Triglyceride 151
Direct LDL 188.
Doctor recommended Simvastatin due to family history, 3 months later, with no change in diet or exercise the readings were:
Chol 177
HDL 38
Triglyceride 159
Direct LDL 100.
The last lab tests this past Fall were:
Chol 158
HDL 45
Triglyceride 102
Direct LDL 93.
Still no significant change in diet or exercise, only $48/year spent on Simvastatin.
#45
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
There's truth to that. The linkage of cholesterol to heart attack is based largely on a statistical correlation. That data is pretty good as far as it goes, but statistical correlation isn't the same as causation. Of course there are the arterial plaques so something is going on, but the exact process isn't as well understood as some would have people believe.
As pointed out, many feel that triglycerides may be as important, if not more important than cholesterol, and there's also data supporting histamines and radicals as important factors. Th science continues to evolve, and keep in mind that it wasn't that many years ago that there's wasn't the separation of HDLP and LDLP as being good and bad.
One of the problems with health science is that there's a tendency to try to make decisions based on incomplete understanding of how things work. It wasn't all that long ago that the "experts" urged that folks move away from saturated fats like butter to less saturated fats like those in margarine, whet we now call transfats. That turned out to be brilliant advice.
As pointed out, many feel that triglycerides may be as important, if not more important than cholesterol, and there's also data supporting histamines and radicals as important factors. Th science continues to evolve, and keep in mind that it wasn't that many years ago that there's wasn't the separation of HDLP and LDLP as being good and bad.
One of the problems with health science is that there's a tendency to try to make decisions based on incomplete understanding of how things work. It wasn't all that long ago that the "experts" urged that folks move away from saturated fats like butter to less saturated fats like those in margarine, whet we now call transfats. That turned out to be brilliant advice.
The commonality between most successful diets is the elimination of sugar and processed foods and for us this includes no wheat / gluten (my wife is a celiac) and adopting a higher fat, lower carb diet.
Coronary issues are caused by chronic inflammation, processed foods and too much sugar raises triglycerides and this increases the inflammatory factors in the circulatory system.
We don't avoid saturated fats... we thrive on them. Almost all our carbs come from vegetables and we can eat a lot of those every day and stay below the carb thresholds we have set for ourselves, the majority of the calories come from fats which include coconut oil, butter, nuts, lard, and olive oil.
Neither of us had any noteworthy issues and my numbers are as good or better on a higher fat diet than it was when I was eating more carbs... my wife's numbers have improved even more (her blood pressure has come down) and she has lost 50 pounds in 6 months with no calorie restrictions and no big change in her activity level.
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Sunny so. cal.
Posts: 904
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 136 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times
in
31 Posts
I cut my intake of processed foods--canned, frozen, fast food and ate heart-healthy, organic fruits and veggies as well as chicken and fish (cut out the red meat). When I ate out, I only ate Subway turkey sands with no cheese or mayo. I cut my sodium too as my BP was high. I ate oatmeal for breakfast almost everyday, jazzing it up with various fruits, cinnamon, and other spices for variety. I even cut out cream for coffee. I started to ride again, too. I also began to walk and trail run. My BP dropped and my total cholesterol dropped but my HDL went up (good!). I dropped 15 lbs. from diet change alone, more came off with the added exercise. I never had to take any drugs. Yes, I went at it hardcore but then again, I didn't want to die early.
#48
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
@ I-Like-to-Bike ... THANKS
#49
Still can't climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
diet and exercise does work but specific suggestion is oats and flax every morning.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Further North than U
Posts: 2,000
Bikes: Spec Roubaix, three Fisher Montare, two Pugs
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I had a decent diet and did 4500mi the year before I had a heart attack and my cholesterol was around 165. My HDL was very low in spite of all my exercise. If genetics are against you, no manner of exercise may help. I am now a no-oil vegan and my cholesterol has dropped to 105 and when my stent was put in my doc noticed my other bad artery was significantly better than it was previously. I would suggest a big change in diet and if possible, upping your exercise but if it doesn't have a major affect in 6mo I'd certainly follow your docs advice on drug therapy. Truthfully, if I were you, I'd get on statins now and add better diet and exercise and then see if I could get off them at some point.