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My wife has high cholesterol and her doctor wants her to go on statins. Since the blood test results, telephone discussions have indirect with the doctor. she is overweight, about 35#s, but is working on it. Present data: Total - 257, LDL - 149, HDL - 108 (if HDL is TOTAL minus LDL?), TRI - 125.
She is reluctantly willing to go on statins, but would like to give the diet & exercise a chance. Contributing factor: For the last year - a bad back problem requiring fusion & no exercise. The back is Ok now.
Your opinion please.
Thanks

R. L. Costello

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Female

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)

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It is still considered High.

If she eats a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, regular exercise (30 to 60 min) each day and at this point take a vitamin called Fish Oil one in the morning and one in the evening. Her values will drop withing 3-6 months. Fish oil is great in helping to reduce these values, but this is also in conjunction to eating properly etc. Although the medications help, there are some side effects that can occur. So if she can do the diet & exercise along with taking the fish oil (which if you have a Walmart near by) You can get it there. She can start it and then re-test in 3 to 4 months and by then she will see an improvement etc.

Hope this helps, If you need anything else please feel free to ask. If you found this helpful don’t forget to click the *accept* button!

Reply to Lindie's Post: Is Total Cholesterol LDL + HDL?
At an LDL of 149, would she be considered "Borderline High" or at a Total of 257 be considered "High"? Her doctor appears to consider only the Total #.

Thanks

There is Total, HDL, LDL and TRI; I think what you are referring to is, the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol in place of the total blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that the absolute numbers for total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels be used. This is obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level into the total cholesterol. So with the numbers you listed would be 2.39

LDL; as you have listed would be borderline high

Total; is High

HDL; should be between 50-60, 60 or higher reduces the risk of heart disease

TRI; is in the normal range.

(LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body. (HDL) remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.

This is why too much LDL cholesterol is bad for the body, while the HDL form is good. It's the balance between the types of cholesterol that tells you what your cholesterol levels mean.

Hope this helps Hun.

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