I'm 35 years old. I can run (jogging) above 30 minutes. My blood test report says my LDL cholesterol is 204. What I do now? I facing heart problems in future? What can I do now?
View 2 RepliesI had a general health check at doctors yesterday. Am a 41 year old male and am taking co-codamol painkillers and amitriptyline on regular basis for back/nerve pain. Try to be physically active when I can but have real issues with my back and legs that limits anything too physical or for any length of time, but in general I manage at least 30 mins of some kind of physical activity each day. My diet isn't brilliant but it isn't terrible either (can be improved I'm sure).
6ft tall, waist measured yesterday at 38" and I'm just under 80 kg in weight.
My health check said my blood pressure was good, and that my pulse was nice and steady but also that my good cholesterol was above average (over 1.5) but that my bad cholesterol was not where it needs to be at 7.2.
The bad reading has freaked me out a bit. I've never had a cholesterol test before so cannot compare reading to a historic level but nurse has requested me to have a further blood test and probably a chat with doctor.
So, question is does having an above average level of good cholesterol and good blood pressure help manage the higher levels of bad cholesterol? My overall risk of having some kind of cardiac issue in next ten years came out at 1.49% which seems fairly low, but I forgot to ask how low you can get this % ie a risk of 0.01%?
I can try to up my physical activity a little bit but how dramatic would you change your diet based on above? I have lost two relatives to heart disease on my father's side of family (his sister and his father) but both parents appear to be fine although not aware they have ever had their own cholesterol tested.
I'm going to try and lose a few kg in weight which I'm sure will help but any advice in how to better manage my bad cholesterol appreciated.
There is no disease caused by cholesterol. One study using 9 countries showed a correlation between cholesterol and heart attacks but when all other countries were put in there was no correlation in fact the Eskimos who have blood cholesterol 300 - 500 and are legendary for not having heart problems. 75% of heart attacks happen to people who have what doctor would say good cholesterol. Some studies have shown that cholesterol below 200 shorten your life expectancy. As people decreased their cholesterol intake many other diseases that did not exist 50 years ago are know are on the top of the list. Alzheimer's, Erectile dysfunction, hormone problem, and poor immune systems why because they are all made of cholesterol. Naturopath doctor say a normal cholesterol is 220 - 270
View 2 RepliesAfter initially being diagnosed with stage 4 terminal bladder cancer and told I only had weeks to live, plus there was nothing they could do for me, I became a pro-active patient (doctors advise, I decide). All that was nearly 7 years ago.
I have been on Tamsulosin on and off (definitely on in the last year) to help peeing.
In the last year, my blood pressure has risen to dangerous levels. Hypertension pills have helped somewhat, and by experimenting I've got to a good combination with little swelling and other side-effects. But then my remaining kidney started failing.
Investigating this a couple of weeks ago, it was found that my retention (no-one mentioned PVR) had worsened from an earlier 'normal' of 500-600mL to 1.2L and this was thought to have caused the kidney problems.
I'm now catheterised for 4 weeks (half-way through now), and both my blood pressure and kidney function tests are showing an improvement.
The last thing the urologist said was that they'd probably be considering prostate shaving. Hence my coming to this forum and reading up on the alternatives (Urolift sounds an attractive option if I'm suitable). Whilst I understand that TURP is both the gold-standard and generally OK, the stories here have underlined the serious risk of bad side-effects. So I'll see if I'm eligible for some of the alternatives (not just Urolift, but PAE and WHY).
I'll update when I've seen the urologist next.
I have had this condition for 4 weeks and am becoming depressed.
It started on the second day of my Cruise holiday. But on reflection I now realize that there were some signs leading up to it. Firstly I had several headaches which is unusual for me.. I also had an ache in my jaw which I thought was Neuralgia. I asked my sister to check my ear for a spot as my ear was getting painful. I had a watery eye and one nostril was runny. I passed a weird motion on the flight out which was the color of a new born babies first pooh.! Several day after diagnosis I passed several little lots of blood from my back passage preceded by back pain.
I recently started using an electric toothbrush and caused a small abrasion on my lower gum whilst brushing between my teeth. I can't help thinking that there is some connection as the symptoms started soon after.
I have had the usual steroids and also been treated for an ulceration on the cornea caused by rubbing of the eye before the paralysis came on.the ships doctor did everything expected of her. Once home I saw my own doctor who says to keep using the eye drops and an ointment at night with tape to keep the eye closed. The tape comes off all the time so given up on that as just wakes me up at night.
After 4 weeks and very little improvement I am getting scared that it may be permanent and find it difficult to face people and frustrated at not being able drive due to blurred and reduced vision.
For several years I took Simvastatin lowest dose (cut in HALF) and had good cholesterol numbers that satisfied the internist. That doc retired and new internist did a CPK test last year (my first one ever) and found it elevated to 243 so stopped the statin due to fears of muscle damage.
A year later (last week) the retested CPK, after taking NO statin for a year, was 303 and chol. numbers were back up (see below)!! So, doc says go ahead and take atorvastatin because there is a percentage of people who have high CPK with no other apparent problem. He said atorvastatin is more effective re chol. lowering than simvastatin which I'd had years ago. Is that so?
I am female, 64 years old and at age 55 had a calcium scan of the heart which showed ZERO calcium score. This was because I had similar TC numbers to current numbers and one doc (a cardiologist!) said 'have the scan' -- "find out if you need a statin." When he saw the ZERO calcium score for someone 55 he laughed and said I did not need a statin.
Years later, however, this new internist/gerontologist says that's fine but that is just the hardened cholesterol seen in the zero score, not the 'soft,' which is what travels and causes heart attacks and stroke. Great! Money spent for nothing on the test! Guess I need to educate the cardiologist?
My current chol. numbers before re-starting a statin last week were: Total Chol: 251; HDL: 77; LDL: 157; and Trigs: 87. Ratio is 3.26 -- Doc says he does 'not like' the 157 LDL.
So... a week ago I started on atorvastatin at a super low dose (I cut the 10 mg. pills into quarters so 2.5 per day. I have read in multiple places that it's stronger than simvastatin so wanted to start LOW and research shows that 2.5 is often enough to bring numbers to reasonable levels. I am not aiming to have the world's lowest cholesterol.
Last night and today I developed sharp pains in upper mid section and read the 'side effects' -- sure enough -- it's a possibility. Have also experienced increase in heartburn since taking these pills for a week. Started almost immediately. Is there a connection?
NOTE: Gallbladder removed in '04, before ever starting on any statin at all -- I'm one of the many who still has occasional GB related pains, likely from sphincter of oddi problems (sludge or stones formed by liver). It is called SOD III and it's not uncommon and since it's not a frequent occurrence, there is nothing to do about it per gastro doc. I have not had an episode in three+ years until last night/today, though this was mild.
Any relation to start-up of atorvastatin and these pains? Who knows? I would prefer taking NO statins since they are known to raise glucose a little and can bring on Diabetes type 2. My fasting glucose is high normal already at 98 and type II runs in my family at older ages. Swell.
What do YOU experts think of this? Would you be concerned about taking atorvastatin (or switching to simvastatin, which I took with no obvious problems for a few years?) Or would you just say forget the statins and live your life and don't worry about it? There is NO history of heart attack in anyone on either side of my family before age 80 and no 'strokes' at all.
I have a heart rate most of the time from 42 to 50 BPM , my blood pressure is usually 145 to 160 over 75 to 80. My cardiologist has me taking 75 mg, of Lopressor, 360 mg, of verapamil, .4 mg nitroglycerin patch. And now he wants to add 10 mg of Ramipril ( Altace ) a day, my recent cardiograms have have shown sinus bradycardia. That's before starting the Ramipril , I'm just very leary about starting the Ramipril in first of all the highest dose there is, and second of all it could further lower my heart rate and send my heart into an AV Block that could lead to many things not good !
View 2 RepliesI'm going to be completely honest and as thorough as possible, I'm an addict, and I've had an addiction to stimulants for the last year and a half (consisting of about 95% amphetamine usage, never used methamphetamine). I usually keep my doses anywhere around 10-60mg cause I never wanted to over do it. Unfortunately, last week I dove in deep to my addiction due to a recent break up, about 4 days ago I did around 130 mg spread out through the day, I felt fine until I took my very last dose (30 mg about), at that point it only increased negative side effects.
After a while of feeling odd and stuff, I began to have trouble breathing and chest pains (I can't remember which started first), it kind of felt like they coincided, but I still would get very minor and infrequent pain without breathing, it felt like I couldn't take a full breath of air, and when I did the chest pain would kick in (more), it felt like a tightening pain. My left arm soon became somewhat numb and tingly, not numb like when you accidentally sleep on it, but just a little numbing that felt like it stretched down my arm through a single vein, the numbness was generally more intense under my armpit and bicep area, and would intensify when I rubbed certain areas. I had a very sore/stiff neck, especially around the area between my shoulder blades and neck, it wasn't on one side, it was mostly in the middle (my neck and back are still sore after this experience, as well as the tingling sensation in my arm but its not at all that bad, and it comes and goes). I had anxiety during this event, and I felt like when people would talk to me I wasn't truly comprehending what they would say, but yet I still was able to reply to them, I just didn't say much or think about what I was saying, I only could pay attention to what was happening to me. I felt like things were kind of slowed down and I was very fatigued and zoned out. I felt as if I was slowly meeting my demise. I believe I got cold sweats a couple times, but not much. I had some heart burn later that night, and the next but its gone.
It came across to me that maybe this was a panic attack but the pain lasted 2-3 hours, after that it wasn't horrible, but it was still somewhat there, and the mental aspect of a panic attack wasn't that intense. I also do think that my left arm may just have "mouse arm" (cant remember medical term), cause I use a computer a lot, a part of my muscle/tendon in my hand has been sore for a while, and it is somewhat acting up now as I type. I really am not sure if a lot of this is me overreacting, or just a placebo effect (I hope so). I've had minor chest pains since I was 13 (I just turned 18), and every time I went in to get my heart checked out, they said I was fine, and that I had a slight irregular heart beat but it was nothing to worry about and a lot of people have it but don't know.
I also have this weird problem with my thought process either that started the night of the incident, or I haven't noticed before. The only way I can explain it is as if my brain buffers for a moment when I go back and forth between two thoughts, it's like I over excite the neurons responsible for those thoughts and I end up overriding my brain for a brief second with confusion, then it's fine. I do have some chest pains now, but it isn't very often, and honestly happens mostly when I think about it or worry about it (same with the left arm), which is why I think I could be conning my self about this entire incident, because I've had panic attacks before but they weren't as bad and were more mental than physical.
It's dumb of me but I never went into the doctors cause 1. I was too paranoid to go in, and 2. I don't want to worry my mom or waste her money just so the doc's (possibly) find nothing. I haven't lately because all I've been doing is researching about this stuff, off and on I think I'm fine and then I don't. So I came here to settle it once and for all, I have a doctors appt. next week anyways so if you guys don't think its serious (I don't, but it could be denial) I'll just wait until then, if it is then I'll go now. I know everybody says "If its your heart then don't risk it", but every time I go in for my heart, it's always nothing.
My family nor myself have a history of heart disease, diabetes, or just flat out obesity. I'm very fit, just oddly muscular for my age, but I don't work out as often as I should now-a-days. I also smoke cigarettes, and my heart pains/arm numbness do come back a bit when I have a cig, but then again it could just be my head. The last time I had any form of a heart test was probably about a year or two ago, it was an EKG and I believe a blood test, but my memory is a bit foggy in that area. My heart rate is normal, I don't know about my blood pressure, but I believe I got a test for it lying somewhere around my house. My last dose of amphetamines was today, yes I know its stupid, but it's literally my last dose (I weaned myself off).
Oh and I did have sex last night, being in the moment I may have over did it (I usually get this feeling just without the numbing), my heart pounded like hell, I got heart burn during it, my left arm and leg became pretty numb, I was kind of tremor-ish, and that's it. Once I orgasmed the numbing went away (except for under my armpit area), and my heart was fine, but beating pretty fast (110bpm).
So do you think I likely had a heart attack? Or do you think it's something else? Or a combination of things? Or simply nothing but a placebo affect or panic attack? And by the way how long does numbing of the left-arm and chest pains last after having a heart attack?
Recently my heart has been trembling a lot and i find it hard to sleep because i can feel it beating. I used to feel pain in my heart on occasion before, but i have not had that recently. When I drink coffee the tremors are more noticeable and more frequent.
On my mother's side, she has history of high blood pressure and heart disease, her father died at 50 from a heart attack and my cousin (32 female) has a pacemaker.
Other symptoms include:
Redness under my eyes
Pitted and grooved nails
Personal profile:
25 y/o male
Smoker - 10 a day
I used to use cocaine infrequently for around 2 years (a heavy session once a month)
I don't drink alot maybe once a week
Has anyone experienced heart palpitations throughout the day and a fast heart beat that wakes you up in the morning. I'm going to the doc to make sure its nothing serious but i have suffered with panic attacks and hypochondria for years this is just new symptoms.
View 4 Replieshi for about 8 weeks now i have been having what feels like heart palpitations,i have visited my gp and 2 said they thought i was having panic attacks and 1 thought a stomach ulcer i have ended up in hospital twice due to me going light headed feeling sick and having numbness down both arms and racing heart both times i was watching tv when it happened! its driving me insane i have had 3 ECG's all came back normal i sometimes have pain in my left shoulder or in my upper back around shoulder blades or in my upper stomach both sides, i have sat and taken my pulse when it happens but my heart rate doesn't seem to change, i have another appointment with the doctor on monday but feel like im being laughed at and not listened to!
View 2 RepliesI'm a 32 year old female and about a year ago I started with what felt like skipped beats so I went to the doctor who listened to my heart and said it sounded ok so she sent me for a 24 hour heart monitor which showed my heart beating faster than it should at times and also in places there was extra beats which she said would of been what I felt as skipped beats, anyway she said they seemed to be benign but is sending me to a cardiologist to see if there are any mess to control it as it happens daily and just recently I've started to get a feeling a bit like my heart is vibrating but I only notice it when I'm sat down doing nothing. Does anyone else have this problem? I feel like I'm going made and it's taking over my life it's all I seem to think about now.
View 1 RepliesI had a heart catherization done in may 2014 and all was normal thank god now my question is what are the chances are for a person with mirmal heart cath to develop a heart attack , and can it happen withen a year from the cath please ?
View 1 RepliesIs an enlarged heart classed as heart failure?
View 9 RepliesI'm now, 44 years old had my first heart attack at 30 years old. Doctor has no idea why. Lately I'm having the pains again. But seems to be a few days after I do big jobs. " I drill holes in steal with a drill, put the drill against my shoulder and push in to the wall." Never hurts until 2 to 4 days later, Also hurts in long drives from bouncing cars and trucks it bothers me too get me sleepy. When I was age 30 I ran a lot bounced as I ran or running. If this could be true what would be good questions to ask the card. What test to ask for. Is their a test for this? The card says Vanes should look like cheetos, but mine are smooth/no problems. They give me more meds. Then on my way. Would muscles in my chess also be permanently damage too? I know heart damage happens every time their is a attack. No more vibration near my chess. Been doing my job for 25 years. Does this sound to crazy? What other info you Docs need. Where could I find more info for this. I heard truck driver have the same thing bouncing in trucks all day.
View 1 RepliesI'm sat with family & friends in my local pub and I'm panicking! Nausea hot racing heart thoughts of a heart attack!
View 4 RepliesJust got my results after 6 months on atorvastatin:
Total cholesterol; 129 (down from 185)
LDL: 66 (Down from 117)
HDL: 40 (down from 44)
Triglycerides - 96
My cardiologist is very happy with these numbers, but I'm wondering if they could get too low. My total has never been below 150 until now.
I'm a 42-year old male in good health but with a family history of heart disease and borderline high BP.
My cholesterol is 263 with Triglycerides 102, HDL 65 and LDL 180. What can I do to lower my bad numbers.
View 2 RepliesI am 21 years of age having a height of 6'1" and weigh 85 kilos. My cholesterol level is 245 with LDL 154 and HDL 51 and Triglycerides 209. Is there any way I can reduce all this and lead a normal life?
View 2 Replies am in the UK so the measurement system is different (mmol)
My TChol is 3.17. HDL is .99 and the ratio is 3.2. However, no LDL was done. I am told by my GP that there's no problem. Everything is fine and there's no need for a LDL test.
What do you think? Isn't the HDL a bit low?
I am male aged 68.
have just had a telephone consult with my gp he tells me my cholesterol is 5.63 good and bad chol 3.69 can anyone tell me what this means? is it high - he wants me to go on statins and i am already on warfarin.
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