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2005-09-08 8:16 PM

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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?

Not that I'm worried, (i'm not) , but my doc (3 years younger, hair whiter than mine, and ALOT more unathletic looking than me-Pear shape)   is asking me to consider using medication to lower my Cholestrol count.....

Opinions?  Or should I just drink more red wine?  Which I'm very much in favor of!!! (I'm a Viking when it comes to drinking wine)<img align='middle' src='https://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/images/emoticons/smile.gif'>



2005-09-08 8:20 PM
in reply to: #243032

Champion
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Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?
High cholesterol can be genetically inherited. Despite clean living, you still may have a high count. In that case, I would cave into the Doc and take advantage of something that might lower it a bit. Conversely, there are people who live on Big Macs and french fries and have cholesterol counts in the 140's. There sometimes is no accounting for the luck of genetics.

2005-09-08 9:15 PM
in reply to: #243032

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?

Like Max said predisposal to high cholesterol can be genetically inherited.  However have you tried altering your diet first before medication?  I always look to medication as the last option.

A couple of years ago I went through a really bad stage of having some serious chronic headaches and my blood pressure and cholesterol levels went up really high (I was only 25) so started to panic and medication was the immediate response of Drs.

I reduced me stress found out the cause of the headaches. and altered my diet (which was fairly healthy to start with) and had pretty much instant results with the blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

so my advice (and i'm not a Dr) would be if you haven't changed your diet to alter that first. but thats just my 2 cents.

2005-09-09 1:05 AM
in reply to: #243032

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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?

BP has always been very good.  Daddy had a rotar rooter thing done back in 93 to some veins/arteries,  But he later passed away around 2000 at the age of 85........

So here I am, STUD(in my mind)haven't smoked for 3 years. watch my food type intake...exercise (look at my log)....I will meet with doc next thursday....Will go toe to toe with him and see what he says.....more white hair, heavier and more out of shape then me, plus younger than me....." hey doc, wanta go ride 40 miles with me after swimming 40 laps"  

I think it is just heritary....Viking/midwest farmboy in me.

2005-09-09 6:53 AM
in reply to: #243032

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Elite
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Preferably on my bike somewhere
Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?
I have high cholesterol - well over 200 - 230 or something. THat was my last test a year ago. My doctor put me on Lipitor (after I made a serious attempt to change my diet and excerise) and it gave me horrible heartburn. My diet wasn't bad to begin with and my job requires CONSTANT movement - I rarely sit until I get home. I come to find out that my family has high cholestorol and I wonder how much I'll really be able to do. I talked to my doctor long and hard about it - I am AGAINST medications in general (Americans are over-prescribed as it is) and we decided that we ought to try the Lipitor.

If you have no other risk factors, then you should think about the medication. If you like your fried foods, or you can't LIVE without eggs and bacon 3 days a week, medication can be a good way to protect yourself.

My concern is that we still don't have a lot of experience with statins. THey haven't been around for a long time. That being said, it seems like Men's Health post study where statins do more and more good things...
2005-09-09 9:59 AM
in reply to: #243032

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Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?
First, what is your LDL to HDL ratio? Second, stop worrying about the numbers and get a second opinion. Did you know that worry and stress help to increase cholesterol. For another, are you predisposed to Diabetes. A high cholesteral count can be an indicator of diabetes or high blood sugars.
Lastly, your dad lived to a very nice age. How about his dad. If it's the same outcome I would just have fun training and stop worrying. My uncle who is 5'5" 130lbs has a cholesterol count of 400 and he doesn't smoke or drink. He has been like this since he was 30 now he is 75 and doesn't do anything because he thinks he will die from a heart attack!!! What a shame!! Don't let this happen to you.


2005-09-09 10:28 AM
in reply to: #243032

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Master
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Lexington, Kentucky
Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?

Hey there. I've always been thin and active, so I was surprised to find out I had cholesterol/lipid issues. As others have said, genetics trumps lifestyle & diet. In my case, my HDL level was too low. My doc put me on Niacin (2 grams/day) a few years ago. It has helped. Side effects are flushing/tingling for about 30 minutes after taking the pills. You get used to it.

I also found that Fish oil (5-6 grams/day) lowered both HDL & LDL.

What is your doc suggesting?

2005-09-09 11:02 AM
in reply to: #243032

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Master
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Mechanicsburg, PA
Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?
And then you have badgers like me on the other side of the coin. Even at my heaviest (378 pounds - and yes, that's 378 pounds American, not Sterling), my worst total cholesterol was just under 180. Granted red wine and garlic flows throught my veins... Actually, now that I've been working out for a year and a half, it's a few points higher (still well under 200), but my HDL has gone up by over 50% from where it was 2 years ago. So where my family gives me a history of diabetes and cancer, I've gotten a break on the cholesterol thing... My fasting blood sugar numbers were a whole different issue 2 years ago too. Almost as high as my total cholesterol count

If it were me, I'd rather give dietary changes a go first before trying a drug... If all else fails and it's a matter of health, then maybe the pill.

-Frank

Edited by scuba-punk 2005-09-09 11:03 AM
2005-09-09 11:03 AM
in reply to: #243280

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Master
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Colorado
Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?

My Sicilean mother insists that it takes 5 glasses of red wine a day in order to maintain a healthy cholestrol level. But then, the woman really like her wine, so who's to say whether or not it's all a big excuse? 

2005-09-09 2:47 PM
in reply to: #243032

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Champion
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Fairport, NY
Subject: RE: Anybody out there have problems with high cholestrol?
One of my great-great-grandmothers lived to 104 and attributed it to a glass of brandy a day. I say compromise and have 3 glasses of wine and one glass of good brandy. If that doesn't work, well you won't really care, will you? :)
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