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Can someone help me. I truly don't understand where to start. I am on disability, with a leak in my spinal column. I can do some non-jarring exercise. I am starting a 5 to 6 day a week walking program and after the first of the year I am going to do water aerobics.
I thought I was eating properly but after doing some reading I find out I wasn't doing very well at all.
Here are my numbers:
Total 270 (rec. 125 - 200) HDL 51 (rec. > or = 46) Triglycerides 111 (rec.
If you haven't already done so, I would recommend a thyroid evaluation. TSH, FT4, and FT3. Don't let them forget the FT3. It is in my opinion, the most important number when it comes to lipid metabolism.
The exercise will help increase your metabolism which in turn burns off excess lipids. But the reduction in cholesterol that results is merely a side effect from the exercise. The increased metabolic rate is where I believe the cardiovascular benefit comes from.
Statins will lower your cholesterol by inhibiting an important metabolic pathway which also produces CoQ10 and other vital products for metabolism, and in no way offers any metabolic gains. You get a rosey lab report, but limp out of the doctors office if you get struck with side effects.
Bobby
Try to cut way down on fats in your diet if you can.
As far as the exercise goes, build up gradually. That way you'll feel better from it, and not worn out. As you feel stronger from the exercise, you will want to do more. Most people try to do to much, then give up thinking they can't do it.
Taking this gradual path since my bypass surgery 4 years ago, I had no setbacks until last summer, from some over-confidence and getting a little lazy. Last spring I spent 3 hours on my feet playing badminton, and never got tired. In March 2006, 2 months after surgery, I could barely walk around the block once.
As your exercise capacity build up, it help help lower your LDL. Combined with my diet, I lowered my LDL by 60%. Statins are only supposed to have contributed 5-10% of that.
DMW
Again, thanks.
TSH, 3rd Generation W/Reflex to T4
Is the 3rd generation the T3 you mentioned?
Thanks!
The 3rd generation TSH is NOT the T3 test I mentioned.
T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. This is the hormone that can have a significant impact on cholesterol and triglycerides. The FT3 is the free unbound T3 circulating in the blood and available for use by the body. A lack of T3 would elevate blood lipids, while excess T3 would cause cholesterol levels that are too low.
TSH is simply the signal from the brain asking the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. TSH does not measure the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood.
There are two basic thyroid hormones in the blood.
FT4 is the inactive thyroid hormone circulating in the blood stream. The body converts T4 into T3 by dropping one atom of Iodine, making it into T3 the active thyroid hormone.
This can have a significant impact on cholesterol levels.
Bobby
My cardiologist had suggested taking it, and he said 3 years ago that about 100 mg a day seemed what the research showed to be beneficial.
If you can gradually increase your fitness, in duration and intensity, that should also help bring down your LDL and triglycerides.
Its interesting to look at the graphs at how much CoQ10 levels in the heart drop as we age. I think CoQ10 and exercise are important in maintaining a strong heart muscle.
Keeping a close eye on thyroid function as we age is another good idea. Between thyroid function, a clean diet, physical activity, sunshine and fresh air, a person can make a huge difference in metabolic function.
I sometimes think of metabolic function the same way I think of a gas furnace in a house. You want a clean blue flame burning inside you.
Bobby
Your LDL's are the culprits. Get those down and the total cholesterol will go down too.
I went to a "Natural Doctor" (one that my Dr. would label a "quack") that put me on an otc product called Lipi-Control. I also take 200 mg CoQ10. I now eat a sensable diet and some excercise, but I will eat sausage/eggs/fried potatoes or a piece of pie & ice cream occasionally. Prior to taking Lipi-Control, I would not have even considered eating those things.
My last #'s in Sep.t were Chol 166, HDL 48, LDL 74 and the Chol/HDL ratio was 3.46. My Dr does not believe in otc meds, so he prescribed 500 mg. niacin only and my #'s were Chol, 237, HDL 50 , LDL 132 with a ratio of 4.74.
You can find Lipi-Control at www.Griffinmedicalgroup.com. I buy the CoQ10 at Vitacost.com. I have no affiliation to Lipi-Control, Vitacost or the Griffin Medical Group, whatsoever.
Good luck, I know you can do it.
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