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What Causes High Cholesterol Levels?
I am a 34 yo white female, I am 5'6 1/2" and123 lbs with a fairly small frame and I am muscular to the point of being tone but not bulky. I exercise regularly, usually by doing pilates, power yoga, swimming, resistance training, and cardio through kickboxing, zumba, and dance classes. I am not much of an eater as I just don't have an appetite to speak of...I often have to remind myself to eat. When I do eat, it is usually an egg white omlette with some feta, olives, and tomatoes or something similar, i've taken fish oil supplements for years. in spite of it all i have high cholesterol according to recent blood work. i have no family history...are there other causes for high cholesterol?
Tue, 28 Feb 2017
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that total cholesterol levels are not a true indicator of your cardiovascular risk.
Your blood lipid profile is better evaluated through the Total cholesterol/HDL ratio and LDL/ HDL ratio. Values below 4.5 of Total cholesterol/HDL ratio or 3.5 of LDL /HDL ratio are considered normal and indicate that there is no need to be treated.
But if these ratios are not within the normal ranges, I would explain that this could be related to different causes:
- genetics: Do you have any family history of dislipidemia or repeated stroke?
- liver or kidney dysfunction
- thyroid dysfunction.
So, I would recommend performing liver and kidney function tests and thyroid hormone levels, to exclude these other possibilities.
Meanwhile, I would recommend continuing on your healthy lifestyle and do not change anything.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that total cholesterol levels are not a true indicator of your cardiovascular risk.
Your blood lipid profile is better evaluated through the Total cholesterol/HDL ratio and LDL/ HDL ratio. Values below 4.5 of Total cholesterol/HDL ratio or 3.5 of LDL /HDL ratio are considered normal and indicate that there is no need to be treated.
But if these ratios are not within the normal ranges, I would explain that this could be related to different causes:
- genetics: Do you have any family history of dislipidemia or repeated stroke?
- liver or kidney dysfunction
- thyroid dysfunction.
So, I would recommend performing liver and kidney function tests and thyroid hormone levels, to exclude these other possibilities.
Meanwhile, I would recommend continuing on your healthy lifestyle and do not change anything.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I find this answer helpful
Hi,
Some part of cholesterol we take with food, but some part our organism produces itself. If our organism has a tendency to produce much cholesterol, so we may have high cholesterol even in case we exercise much and eat healthy. Anyway, only high cholesterol level is no enough to cause heart disease. In your age with your lifestyle you have very low probability to develop a heart disease even if you have high cholesterol, so don't worry, just continue to follow healthy lifestyle.
Take care
Come back if you have any further questions
Some part of cholesterol we take with food, but some part our organism produces itself. If our organism has a tendency to produce much cholesterol, so we may have high cholesterol even in case we exercise much and eat healthy. Anyway, only high cholesterol level is no enough to cause heart disease. In your age with your lifestyle you have very low probability to develop a heart disease even if you have high cholesterol, so don't worry, just continue to follow healthy lifestyle.
Take care
Come back if you have any further questions
I find this answer helpful
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