The Basics About Cholesterol

Cholesterol, what do I need to know?

Know that cholesterol is good and bad. Why good, because we need it to survive. Why bad, because when the blood levels are too high due to bad cholesterol being elevated and good cholesterol being low it leads to medical problems.

 

What is a Lipid Profile?

It is a blood test that your doctor orders to see what your "Total Cholesterol" is along with HDL which is the Good Cholesterol also called Healthy cholesterol or Happy cholesterol or Garbage truck. "H" denotes healthy or happy.

 

Total cholesterol also gives you what your Triglycerides are. These are called fats in the blood, I call them the ugly Cholesterol. Triglycerides change with every meal. If you eat a lot of Sugar and Starch it will raise your triglycerides. That is why you are advised to go in after fasting for more than 12 hours to get your lipid profile done.

 

Total Cholesterol = HDL + LDL + TRIG/5

 

The LDL which is the bad cholesterol also called Lousy Cholesterol or Garbage can. The lower the LDL the longer you live. "L" denotes Lousy. The higher the HDL the longer you live. LOWER THE HDL AND HIGHER THE LDL IS BAD FOR YOU.

 

GOAL: HDL MORE THAN 60. LDL LESS THAN 110 and PREFERABLY LESS THAN 60. TRIGLYCERIDES SHOULD BE LESS THAN 150 AND PREFERABLY LESS THAN 60.

 

If my lab just shows Total Cholesterol and HDL what should I do?

TOTAL CHOLESTOL MINUS HDL (GOOD CHOL) WHAT IS LEFT IS ALL BAD.

Example: Total cholesterol of 200 and HDL of 30. Then 200 - 30 is 170. This is called the NON HDL. I would want that to be less than 100 preferably less than 80.

 

Next time when you are at your Doctor's office you need to look at the numbers yourself. You should know that LDL is Lousy cholesterol and HDL is the happy cholesterol, keep the happy or garbage trucks high and lousy or garbage cans low.

 

How often should I get my cholesterol checked?

I recommend every 3 months if not at least every 6 months and keep a log of it.

 

My Cholesterol is low so I do not have to worry, correct?

Wrong. 80% of patients who develop heart disease have normal cholesterol levels or low cholesterol levels.

 

Then what should I do to find out more about Cholesterol and my risks for developing Heart disease?

You should get an ADVANCED LIPID PROFILE.

 

What is advanced lipid profile?

It is a special test not routinely done in most Doctors offices. This test gives you more detailed information about your cholesterol and the size of cholesterol and the true bad cholesterol in your blood along with some of the known genetic factors.

 

Who should get it?

Everyone should get the advanced test at least once.

 

Do all the labs do the test or where do I go to get it done?

There are three major labs doing the tests. 1) VAP, 2) NMR and 3) BERKLEY HEART LABS routinely perform these tests. There are other smaller laboratories, but are not well known. You can ask your Doctor which lab he is comfortable with and if he does not recommend it or know of it or does not do it then GO FIND A DOCTOR WHO DOES IT.

 

Why is it so important that I get this test done?

Well if you do not know what abnormalities you have in your lab results that can cause plaque and heart disease, then how are you going to take preventive steps or how are you going to treat the problem.

 

Which lab do you use?

I routinely do BERKLEY HEART LABS. Reason being, I have been doing this test on my patient for about 12 years. I like the lab because they are very particular about quality control and all the samples are processed at one lab in California. They also give additional Genetic information which the other two labs above do not offer.

 

If my cholesterol is low what abnormalities should I be looking for and why?

• If your LDL is 110 how much of it is big in size and how much of it is small in size?
  
• How much of the bad Cholesterol is truly bad?
  
• Do you have the deadly Cholesterol called Lp (a) which puts you at a very high risk for Heart disease and Strokes?
  
• If your HDL is 45 how much of it is large in size and how much of it is small in size? Do you want large garbage trucks or small garbage trucks?
  
• Do you have a gene that puts you at a very high risk for Alzhiemers and heart disease?
  
• Is your Vitamin D level normal?
  
• Do you have a gene that helps you respond to cholesterol medications well?
  
• Is the protein that makes the good Cholesterol low?
  
• What is your Uric acid level?
  
• Do you have any inflammation in your arteries?
  
• Is there any stress or strain on your Heart?
  
• What is your fasting Insulin and blood sugar along with HbA1C?
  
• What is your C reactive protein level and What is the level of Lp Pla2 which is the marker for inflammation?
  
• What is your Fibrinogen level?
  
• What is your level of TSH?
  

 

DO YOU HAVE ANSWERS FOR THE ABOVE QUESTIONS?

 

ACTION ITEMS:

GO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR GOOD (HDL), BAD (LDL), UGLY (TRIGS), AND DEADLY CHOLESTEROL (Lp_a) LEVELS ARE?

 

Start eating Reddy Bread Products which contain Omega Fats from Flaxseed which will help lower your cholesterol levels.