Low HDL cholesterol

[Waterman]

While I was drinking(from this past April backwards), my bloodwork was always near perfect! My good cholesterol levels were great, and my bad cholesterol levels were low. My father has heart disease(he drank for less than the first half of his life, but has been sober since I was a kid)........I did bloodwork last month, and got the results back today. My HDL is 38. Should I be worried? My bad cholesterol was 129. I've always heard that drinking in moderation was good for the heart, and I'm wondering if quitting has caused this "negative" Heck, I've lost 22 pounds since April, which should have helped! I'm 48 years old. Any diet suggestions! Thanks!!!

[cmc]

Aside from giving medical advice, it's always a good idea to eat lots of veggies, fruits and whole grains- plus get adequate sleep & exercise. Saturated fat and excessive amount of sugar are to be avoided.

I wonder if the high HDL is connected to the low LDL somehow? I've always had the opposite situation: my HDL is high. My totals were up past 288 at one time.

I was on a statin for a couple of years and recently my doc said I could go off of it since my HDL cancels out my higher than normal LDL. I'm going to retest soon, to make sure I'm okay. I was only using half a lowdose pill 3-5 times a week before we decided to just skip it My doc said I could continue with it if I want to; but they always make my HDL lower and that's not good.

If it was me, I'd retest in three months to see how things are going. I have no idea how the stress of past drinking or the effects of stopping may affect your cholesterol readings. Did you ask your doctor about this?

[cwdsi]

Does your family have a history of cholesterol problems? What does your daily diet consist of? Do you smoke? Do you exercise? I can offer you some advice (not professional advice, but tips as a student of dietetics) but these are important questions that determine any advice any knowledgeable person will give you. I'd go see your doctor or a true professional to advise you on the best course of action.

I'll lay out some facts for you, and I'll try to keep it simple.

-Your liver produces almost all of your daily cholesterol needs, regardless of diet. Any intake through animal products (dairy, meat) is considered excessive; this is not harmful as long as it is moderated and you exercise at least a few times a week. However, if your family has a genetic history of cholesterol issues, it may be the biggest factor in cholesterol problems, regardless of diet or exercise. I would be very selective of what you eat if this is the case.

-Your VLDLs, LDLs, and HDLs are regulated by your liver. The role of LDLs is to transport cholesterol to cell tissues, which is necessary for the production of hormones (primarily sex hormones such as testosterone) and for other purposes such as maintaining integrity of the cells in your body. HDLs role is to remove cholesterol from cell tissues and return it to the liver, where it is broken down or reused. Obviously, a high LDL level indicates that your blood cholesterol is high. Cholesterol is building up in your artery walls.

-Avoid saturated fats! Saturated fatty acids stimulate cholesterol synthesis by your liver and may inhibit the excretion of excess cholesterol from your body.

-Good fats are good! Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are typically vegetable fats, enhance excretion of cholesterol from your body through HDLs. Omega-3 fatty acids are also beneficial; omega-3's are found in fatty fish such as salmon, but the better alternative is flax seeds.

-Exercise. Yeah, any idiot knows that it's good for you, but once you get into a routine, you might find it fun and enjoyable. Nobody has ever said "I regret going running today" or "I regret going to the gym today". That is, unless, you get injured. Regular aerobic exercise has been found to increase HDL levels and lower LDL levels.

Your diet will be the deciding factor. If you consume a lot of animal products, the obvious solution is to cut back. Substitute at the very least a vegetarian meal per day; trust me, there are millions of delicious options, you just need to find them. Vegetable fats are much healthier than animal fats. Whole grains, fruits, and veggies are your best friend for good health. They aren't just rich in vitamins, fiber, and minerals, they also include phytonutrients that may prevent cancer and other health problems.

As far as your LDL levels jumping when you quit drinking... I have no idea. Quitting drinking is beneficial both physiologically and mentally; however, everyone's body is different. Even though you've lost weight, that's probably due to the fact that your calorie intake has dropped from the stoppage of drinking. Alcohol has 7 calories per gram, and if you're drinking beer... well, I'm sure that you already knew that it was fattening. Just because you dropped some weight does not necessarily mean your cholesterol situation has improved as well.

I really hope that this post has helped you. I may have missed something. If you have questions, I'll try to answer them. But most importantly, take your doctor's advice or see a specialist!

[WantToHeal]

Evidence seems to indicate that moderate drinking can potentially raise HDL levels by a few points. Obviously that's not an option for many of us here on SR.

cwdsi gives some great tips for enhancing HDL in the absence of alcohol. If you smoke, quitting is good for a few points. Regular exercise is advisable as well. My most recent HDL reading was 35 (LDL is low, though), and my doctor stressed the importance of increasing my exercise.

I'm sure your doc could provide some good tips.

Be well!