I have high triglycerides which don’t seem to go down with medicine
(Lopid, Zocor, 1500 mg. niacin etc) and reasonable diet (no alcohol
etc). Before really cranking down on a really Spartan diet, or
continuing this expensive medicine, I would like to know: is this stuff
sticking to my arteries or not? (I’m 54, physically active, no angina
etc. ). Someone suggested an angiogram would be invasive and possibly
dangerous. Another friend suggested that an MRI can show blockage. True
or false? What would be involved? Thanks for anyone who has info.
—
Bill Spear <b…@wmspear.com>
227 7th Street. Juneau, Alaska 99801
907/586-2209 v 907/586-6858 f
"…I paid off four points to bring the starboard guns to bear…We
fired on the down roll…and they went down, right down, with their
sails set."
–Patrick O’Brian
Talismen, amulets and charms for an uncertain world.
http://www.carmelnet.com/spearpins
Bill Spear wrote:
> I have high triglycerides which don’t seem to go down with medicine
> (Lopid, Zocor, 1500 mg. niacin etc) and reasonable diet (no alcohol
> etc). Before really cranking down on a really Spartan diet, or
> continuing this expensive medicine, I would like to know: is this stuff
> sticking to my arteries or not? (I’m 54, physically active, no angina
> etc. ). Someone suggested an angiogram would be invasive and possibly
> dangerous. Another friend suggested that an MRI can show blockage. True
> or false? What would be involved?
True an MRI scan can show blockages of coronary (and cerebral) arteries
but that is experimental stuff and not what you need.
You sound well. The best test at predicting your risk of coronary
disease is an exercise electrocardiogram. Talk to the doctor who is
managing your lipids.
–
Dr Dean Jenkins, St Woolos, Newport, Wales. <djenk…@enterprise.net>
ECG library http://homepages.enterprise.net/djenkins/ecghome.html
comments and additions welcomed – obquote "Romani ite domum"
You appear healthy but statistic say hi triglicerides along with other
unhealthy statistics place you in the high risk category for Coronary
heart disease. A more appropriate test is a treadmill, if you fail
that then a thallium scan is in order to measure cardiac ouput and
heart muscle function during stress and rest.
Did your parents die from heart disease?
If yes, you should consider a two week alimentation diet.
Eat simply…
Beans rice potatoes vegetables, no candy no dressings no French fries
no alcohol no fruit juices no sugary drinks. Then have another blood
test. I bet your cholesterol will plummet and your triglicerides will
approach 200.
Modify this diet to taste. Some people like it just fine and others
would rather die and that is just what might happen.
Long
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Bill Spear <b…@wmspear.com> wrote:
>I have high triglycerides which don’t seem to go down with medicine
>(Lopid, Zocor, 1500 mg. niacin etc) and reasonable diet (no alcohol
>etc). Before really cranking down on a really Spartan diet, or
>continuing this expensive medicine, I would like to know: is this stuff
>sticking to my arteries or not? (I’m 54, physically active, no angina
>etc. ). Someone suggested an angiogram would be invasive and possibly
>dangerous. Another friend suggested that an MRI can show blockage. True
>or false? What would be involved? Thanks for anyone who has info.
>–
>Bill Spear <b…@wmspear.com>
>227 7th Street. Juneau, Alaska 99801
>907/586-2209 v 907/586-6858 f
>"…I paid off four points to bring the starboard guns to bear…We
>fired on the down roll…and they went down, right down, with their
>sails set."
>–Patrick O’Brian
>Talismen, amulets and charms for an uncertain world.
>http://www.carmelnet.com/spearpins
In Feb. I had a physical. A week later I received a
phone from my doctor’s nurse indicating the results of
the blood tests they performed. She indicated my
cholesterol level was 173 and my triglycride level was
320. She advised me to get more excerise.
I am 5’8", 150lbs, have been watching my diet, and up until
the weather became too cold had been walking and running
12 to 15 miles a week.
I have read a number of books to try and find more information
on triglycrides and searched the internet. As of this
date I am not certain I understand why my cholesterol level
is 173 and triglycrides are at 320.
If anyone can explain it to me I would appreciate it. What in
someone’s diet can drive the triglycride level up while
the cholesterol level is at 173.?
Chuck Buckley
There are no clear indications for treating isolated
hypertriglyceridemia except when associated with symptoms (specifically
pancreatitis, rarely strokes) or so extraordinarily high that everyone
is expecting symptoms.
When there is indication, either megadose niacin or gemfibrozil (aka
lopid) are used in the U.S.
Elevated triglycerides is an inherited problem.
—
Andrew Chung
Homepage at:
http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~achung
Mirrored at:
http://www.emory.edu/WHSC/MED/HTN/~achung/
<<I have read a number of books to try and find more information
on triglycrides and searched the internet. As of this
date I am not certain I understand why my cholesterol level
is 173 and triglycrides are at 320.
If anyone can explain it to me I would appreciate it. What in
someone’s diet can drive the triglycride level up while
the cholesterol level is at 173.?
Chuck Buckley>>
Possibility 1: Too much alcohol for your liver
Possibility 2: (more likely) You have a lipid disorder
T.Mann MD
http://www.greenbrierclinic.com
Please provide some citations that have shown resistance training to be
better than aerobic exercise in lowering triglycerides.
—
Andrew Chung
Homepage at:
http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~achung
Mirrored at:
http://www.emory.edu/WHSC/MED/HTN/~achung/
Chuck wrote:
> …my
> cholesterol level was 173 and my triglycride level was
> 320. She advised me to get more excerise.
> I am 5’8", 150lbs, have been watching my diet, and up until
> the weather became too cold had been walking and running
> 12 to 15 miles a week.
Supposedly healthy diets which are high in carbohydrates and low in
total fat but where saturated fat dominates result in high triglyceride
levels [Knuiman, 1987 #2157], and the same has been shown in dietary
intervention trials with low-fat diets [Mensink, 1992 #2015]. The
predominant triglyceride-raising mechanism in this case most probably
differs from what causes dangerous hypertriglyceridemia.
So if you’re fit and lean with low cholesterol you must not necessarily
worry a bit about 320 in triglycerides.
Staffan Lindeberg MD PhD
With all due respect:
I don’t think cholesterol levels are much of an indicator of risk.
A far more significant indicator of risk would be elevated triglycerides
levels and low HDL levels.
Since the attending Physician has requested increase in exercise, known to
have beneficial effects on HDL, it would not be an unreasonable assumption
that HDL levels are indeed low.
Therefore, the TGL/HDL ratio would be high (despite total cholesterol) and
the potential for heart disease and/or stroke significant.
I know, I been there and done that.
I’d recommend an Lp(a) cholesterol level be taken and that exercise should
place more emphasis on resistance training than aerobic.
~~~~~~VoV~~~~~~
Grant magnu…@mountain-inter.net
http://www.mountain-inter.net/~magnuson/
Chuck wrote:
> > …my
> > cholesterol level was 173 and my triglycride level was
> > 320. She advised me to get more excerise.
Staffan Lindeberg <staffan.lindeb…@dalby.lu.se> wrote . . .:
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> So if you’re fit and lean with low cholesterol you must not necessarily
> worry a bit about 320 in triglycerides.
Why would you recommend resistance exercise over aerobic?? What type of
resistant exercise are you talking about–weight training?
Thanks,
Marc Carter
mcar…@cloud9.net
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>Grant Magnuson wrote:
> I’d recommend an Lp(a) cholesterol level be taken and that exercise should
> place more emphasis on resistance training than aerobic.
> ~~~~~~VoV~~~~~~
> Grant magnu…@mountain-inter.net
> http://www.mountain-inter.net/~magnuson/
Andrew Chung in a reply to Grant Magnuson’s reply to Steffan Lindeberg’s
reply to Chuck’s post queires the relationship between resistance training
and triglyceride lowering: (simply, there is none, nor do I claim there
is)
If you recall Andrew:
Chuck gave as information a reasonable total cholesterol level, an elevated
triglyceride level, his Physician’s advice to exercise and his former
walk/run of 12-15 miles weekly routine.
Steffan’s reply suggested triglyceride levels were of lesser concern than
cholesterol diminishing the need to worry.
I SAY THAT THERE MAY BE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. (My heart attack, subsequent
heart block followed by a quad-bypass suggests otherwise having had normal
total cholesterol but slightly low HDL and elevated triglycerides.)
I am NOT claiming a triglyceride-lowering link with resistance training.
(But wouldn’t it be nice, if there was?)
I am claiming that the ratio between triglyceride and HDL can be improved
to help reduce risk by increasing HDL during the process of lowering TG.
Further, that since Chuck’s previous experience with exercise has been that
of aerobic which may have an adverse effect on Lp(a) levels (Cardoso GC,
1994 Jan) that I recommend improving the exercise regimen by including and
placing emphasis on resistance training (with the thought of building lean
body muscle mass over time and strengthening all muscles. HDL to improve
also (Ullrich IH, 1987 Mar)).
Now, a step further (I do claim a TG-lowering link with diet):
A carbohydrate restricted diet, by that I mean the "sugar" portion of CHO
to be minimized and the "fibre" portion to be maximized thus reducing the
kJ from CHO and insuring adequate protein and benefical fatty acids.
Niacin, meds, etc. to be considered only after adoption of a change in the
diet paradigm proves unsuccessful.
Why all of the above? – Because it is working for me.
—
~~~~~~VoV~~~~~~
Grant magnu…@mountain-inter.net
http://www.mountain-inter.net/~magnuson/
Grant Magnuson wrote:
> Steffan’s reply suggested triglyceride levels were of lesser concern than
> cholesterol diminishing the need to worry.
Well, rather that triglycerides can be increased by different
mechanisms, all of which may not be unhealthy. For example, if you eat
plenty of slowly digestable carbohydrates your belly may vanish but you
triglycerides may go up.
We studied traditional Melanesians who apparently escape cardiovascular
disease probably mainly because they do not eat western food (see
http://www.panix.com/~donwiss/paleodiet/sl1.shtml). These people are
very lean with low blood pressure but their triglycerides are not lower
than in Sweden.
Staffan (note the spelling)