Cholestorol readings

[commodore]

I have just had my cholestorol checked. The readings are: Total chol - 5.6 L5. HDL chol ratio - 4.71 L3. Wondering if anyone can explain what this means. Is this high? Thanks.

[Sqad]

Zeuhl....;-)

There was a study some years ago where 5 Cambridge students went Iceland and live with the natives and ate seal blubber as their staple diet (animal fat). They recorded the total cholesterol level on a weekly basis and after a period of three months, all had significantly reduced their blood cholesterol levels.

Eat what you want in moderation, exercise regularly and you won't come to much harm......in my opinion.

[WELSHYORKIE]

I should also add, sqad, that i lost my gran, mam, 2 aunts and an uncle due to heart problems and all suffered high cholesterol. My sister has suffered 3 strokes and was told that these were caused by high cholesterol, but my 2 older brothers and I do not currently communicate and therefore I do not know their particular health situations.

[DEN53]

My Doc also said if I didn't get my cholesterol down I am at risk of getting vascular dementia, like my Mum has - that really bloody cheered me up {:o(

[LoftyLottie]

Sometimes I think all the knowledge we now have about all things medical just means we all worry more and we all know that stress is bad for us...........................

Perhaps we should all be just eating wisely exercising more and worrying less.

[LoftyLottie]

Thanks Welsh for your explanation, by the way.

[LazyGun]

Zeuhl - Dont want to comment especially on the whole cholesterol issue - but I do think its a bit careless to cite chicken containing Group B agglutinins as a fact. The only reference I can find for this apparent fact stems from the work of one Naturopath by the name of D'Adamo, who promotes the "blood type diet" - A diet unsupported by any valid empirical research or mainstream science, as best as I can tell. Its certainly true that some edible items contain lectins - but those lectins will agglutinate any blood type, under lab conditions - and that has nothing to do with what might happen in the body.
Now, if people wish to follow a blood type diet, that is up to them - but they should be aware that there is little or no scientific evidence to support it

A very nice website showing just how lacking in rigour these blood type diets are is listed below;

http://www.owenfounda...Lectins_in_Foods.html

[Zeuhl]

Cheers Lazy - appreciate info and i know d'Adamo's work is contentious. I can only cite my own experience as a B-negative Blood type with diagnosed Apparent Polycythaemia and the measurements correlating with increases and decreases in chicken consumption.

I accept a sample of one doesn't make it science but I always feel inclined to query people who claim to eat a lot of chicken.

After all, it is another example of a relatively recent change to our diet in anything other than moderation.

[LazyGun]

@Zeuhl - I think you could get a paper out of any documented changes in your haematocrit and chicken consumption :) - Although as you say, it is a pity it is not a larger sample size - i dont suppose that documentation is available online anywhere is it? I would be fascinated to read it.....

[Zeuhl]

Lazy LOL

I will happily volunteer for the 'zero chicken - swedish massage' trials.

my own un-scientific 'results' were;

transition from piscetarian to semi-vegetarian = chicken 4 tmes a week
That coincided with discovery of Polycythaemia and continued high levels and venesections.

Reduce chicken to once a month treat = first significant drop in 6 mth checks for 3 years. Coincidence? possibly. But welcome either way :-)
.

[LazyGun]

@ Zeuhl - Interesting, and thanks for sharing. Polycythaemia is an interesting disorder, and can have a wide variety of causes, or triggers. I have known several patients who have, effectively, spontaneously resolved their erythrocytosis without us ever getting to the bottom of why it was happening in the first place.

Glad to hear that it resolved itself for you - After all, life can be stressful enough, without having to donate "very nearly an armful" every couple of weeks or so..... :)

[commodore]

Thanks for all your comments. I was curious to know as I have been put on statins and aspirin daily?

[LoftyLottie]

It seems to be that a lot of GP practices are putting people on low dose aspirin and statins daily as a matter of course. Our GP practice automatically give people stomach protection drugs if you are put on daily aspirin.

I presume you know why you are being put on daily aspirin commodore?

[Zeuhl]

<I presume you know why you are being put on daily aspirin commodore? >

Coming on here gives him a headache.

[Prudie]

My 24 yr old daughter was very upset last week when GP said her cholesterol level was high - 3.5!

[Sqad]

Prudie....I should ask for an explanation as unless there is something that we are missing, that is a ridiculous statement for him/her to make.

[Prudie]

I'll tell her Sqad, she was quite tearful.
PS I'll be in your neck of the woods by Friday lunchtime - I'll keep an eye open for you!

[DEN53]

Prudie - you can't miss him, he will be the one in the leopardskin thong (:o)

Why was the GP testing your 24 year old for cholesterol ?

[Prudie]

That's how I imagine him Den! She's had some IBS type symptoms so they gave her the full blood works. It came up on that.

[DEN53]

I've got IBS - in fact its flared up again yesterday.

[LoftyLottie]

I have IBS too. Just got over a huge flare up that lasted weeks, but it now settling down.