LDL 65, 26, and 16mg. Triglycerides 183, 29, and 36mg. HDL 47, 53, and 34mg. These were dramatic improvements, except for the HDL. I am advised the 'good' cholesterol range is 50-200mg. If mine goes below 50mg in the next test do I have a problem? After the last test, doctor reduced my Lipitor prescription from 40 to 20mg. On my own decision I have now reduced the niacin from 1,500 to 1,000mg.
If you have a low LDL you can get by with a low HDL. Having said that, a normal or high HDL also is a protective factor for those with a family history of heart disease so a higher number would be desirable. They are many ways to increase HDL from supplements to exercise. Did your doctor make any suggestions?
Try Niacin to raise your HDL and keep your trigs nice and low. Nuts would also help but Niacin for sure can improve that number..otherwise you have good numbers. I am a 44 year old male and take 2000mg of Niaspan every day and my HDL is up from 29 to 43..my LDL is down to 66 and my trigs are 82. Niacin plus a good diet can give you good numbers.
I have been placed on Niacor to raise my HDLs (both HDL and LDH are very low). I had an eye injury to left eye and now can only see dim light, no images. Since taking Niacor I have started seeing color (traffic lights for instance) and both eyes seem to have a greater sensitivity to light. I have glaucoma which I have had under control for 15 years. Could the Niacor have any impact on my vision?
I had low HDL for at least 30 years. Tried Lipitor and didn't like the side affects. Now this might sound like I'm a crank but I started eating an avocado a day (1/2 if they are really big) and over a period of about 6 - 9 months my HDL rose significantly and has stayed high much to the surprise of the doctors who are sceptical but acknowledge that something has done it.
From the Mayo Clinic;
>>>>>>Niacin can raise HDL — the "good" cholesterol — by 15 to 35 percent. This makes niacin the most effective drug available for raising HDL cholesterol. While niacin's effect on HDL is of most interest, it's worth noting that niacin also decreases your LDL and triglyceride levels. High levels of LDL and triglycerides are significant risk factors for heart disease.
If you want to lower your triglycerides, try taking Carlson Lemon Flavored Fish oil, a tablespoon twice a day, this will help to lower it, and is also good for any inflammation in the veins and arteries. Also, try Niacin, this has been known to help too.
Kamy, I do not know what 2.05 would be if converted, I am used to seeing it the other way.
t want to take Niacin but would not be opposed if the results are permanent. For instance, someone told me they took Niacin for 5 months and raised their HDL levels to 63, so they're doc said it was safe to stop taking them. When they got re-assessed months later, their HDL levels were still good.
Thanks in advance for any help. I am really concerned about this.
I've read conflicting articles saying that niacin is necessary for thyroid function and then some that say it can lower thyroid levels and cause liver damage. I've seen it in some iron supplements and wondered if I needed to stay away from it or if it would be good to take.
Your LDL is fine, however you have a very low HDL (good cholesterol) that should be dealt with as it should be over 50 for a woman, 40 for a man. There are many options to raise HDL, Niacin being one of the best. In addition, HDL responds very quickly to exercise, a minimum of 30 mins most days of the week of a good aerobic work out, trying to keep your heart rate at 70% plus of your maximum heart rate.
Niacin is great for raising HDL, which is very imprtant to protect one's arteries from CAD, however from my research I have not read anything that shows niacin helps lower LDL, I'll have to look agian. I agree wioth exercise, everything I have read shows that regular exercise will help incease HDL, plus it is beneficial to your heart health as well.
Good Luck!
Well aerobic exercise, losing weight, avoiding saturated fats and taking mono-unsaturated fats helps raise HDL levels. Other than this omega-3 fatty acid supplements and niacin can also help raise the HDL levels but ask your doctor before starting this. Take care!
The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you.
Your HDL should be the larger concern. A low HDL cholesterol level is thought to accelerate the development of atherosclerosis because of impaired reverse cholesterol transport and possibly because of the absence of other protective effects of HDL, such as decreased oxidation of other lipoproteins. Low HDL is frequently found in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
I am 31 yro female, exercise, eat right, and yet I have low HDL of 37, LDL 81 and Tri 120. I take fish oil but have not been able to budge my number. My doc just says to keep up what I am doing and not worry about it. But I keep reading in the media that LOW HDL is actually worse than high LDL. Should I be doing more--like a drug treatment?
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