Please help me read my blood test
 

Last year I went in for a physical (before I started exercising). I decided, since I've been exercising for about a year (first weight lifting then I bought a bike in August) to see what a difference it has made. I've lost 25 lbs (need to loose about 20 more) My blood pressure was 140/100 and now is 134/88 and my resting heart rate is around 60 (down from 67-70). However, I don't understand many of the blood test numbers, my triglycerides were 205 and are now 115, my cholesterol is 132 (don't have previous), my HDL cholesterol is 26 (was 28).

Am I correct that HDL is the "good cholesterol"? Also, I thought exercise brought HDL up?

Any thing else that I should look at on the blood test (sodium, potassium levels, etc)?

The name of the doctor you should be discussing it with?

Well, obviously he told me there was nothing major to worry about. You ever try to have a detailed discussion with a doctor on the telephone, over his lunch hour? I guess I was more interested in the athletic/cycling realted information, but sorry if the question was inappropriate.

I wouldn't characterize it as inappropriate, but I would not count too heavily on getting reliable advice on your personal health from an internet forum. Including this post :p

There are a bunch of web sites, i.e.:

http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/he...ur-blood-1.htm

http://www.amarillomed.com/howto.htm

http://www.bikejournal.com/forum.asp?activeOrder=1


Have no clue how good they are, but they should give you some info.

You can't schedule a follow up and speak with your doctor about the results? I wouldn't trust these schleppers on the forums to interpret my data! No way! ;) :D

Koffee

BP is pre-hypertensive.

Your HDL is still kind of low, you want it higher, but your total cholesterol is awesome.

Triglycerides, Cholesterol info at:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/...000_1018_tn_04

What is your waistline measurement ? (be honest!)

What is your blood sugar ?

What is your C-reactive Protein (CRP ?)

Do you smoke ?

Do you have family history of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke ?