Cholesterol test results - Annual

[aja8888]

Just got my Lipid Panel annual as part of my wellness check under Medicare. Results are:

Chol 166

Trig 58

HDL 56 (should be >61)

LDL (Calculated) 98

VLDL 12

CHD Risk 2.96 (should be 4.0 - 7.30)

My Doc has not commented yet, and I am wondering about the low numbers for the HDL and CHD Risk. They appear to be marginally low based on the ranges.

I am 74+, take no cholesterol meds, take only a 25 mg BP med.

The rest of my blood work is normal except testosterone is at the low level of the range.

Besides asking Doc about Low T, should there be any worries or questions about the low numbers in the table above?

 

[braumeister]

Triglycerides are outstanding (very low).
HDL is OK but I’d be happier if they were a little higher.
Overall I don’t see any cause for concern.

 

[aja8888]

Triglycerides are outstanding (very low).
HDL is OK but I’d be happier if they were a little higher.
Overall I don’t see any cause for concern.

Thanks, I should be meeting with the Doc early this week and any info I can glean from here will be helpful. Since I have never had a cholesterol issue, and never really knew much about it, I see these numbers going into the red and have a slight concern.

 

[street]

Those are very good numbers. Do you take a statin?

 

[zinger1457]

An HDL of 56 wasn't flagged as an issue was it? That's considered in the normal range in all the test results I've had, but agree that higher is better.

 

[aja8888]

Do you take a statin?

No, never have.

 

[aja8888]

An HDL of 56 wasn't flagged as an issue was it? That's considered in the normal range in all the test results I've had, but agree that higher is better.

It was highlighted in RED and shown to be below the threshold listed on the sheet. That's why I ask.

 

[zinger1457]

It was highlighted in RED and shown to be below the threshold listed on the sheet. That's why I ask.

Wonder if that's a recent change. My lab reports for the last few years all show an HDL acceptable range of >=40.

 

[aja8888]

Wonder if that's a recent change. My lab reports for the last few years all show an HDL acceptable range of >=40.

Good to know. I'll find out this week.

 

[street]

Your HDL numbers are great and are in the high normal range.

 

[harley]

If they can't get you on a statin with their current recommendations, they'll change them. HDL > 40 has always been considered normal. Your numbers look excellent.

Here's chart of cholesterol levels and what they mean:

 

[mamadogmamacat]

My doctors office has HDL > 46 mg/dL as "desirable", so looks like you are good there. In fact quite good overall for you, as the "desirable numbers fro the others are" 125 to 200 for total cholesterol and less than 150 for triglycerides and and less than 130 for LDL (100 if you have CHD or diabetes and 70 if you have both, which it sounds like do not apply to you anyway) Not sure about the "CHD risk" number not something I have reported unless they are calling the total to HDL ratio that. If so, that is a number that is less than 5.0 and you are therfore good there too.

I would have questions for the Dr (which he/she may or may not be able to answer right away if they don't even know what the values represent exactly) but would resist any statins based on what to me seem like very good numbers especially since you have about 20 yrs on me

 

[VanWinkle]

Wonder if that's a recent change. My lab reports for the last few years all show an HDL acceptable range of >=40.

My last test was for >40 also for HDL, Sorry to say mine is 30.

 

[razztazz]

My last test was for >40 also for HDL, Sorry to say mine is 30.

What's the operational "Street" difference?

 

[aja8888]

I just looked up my Lipid Panel results going back to 2010. Seems like all numbers have been in the general area for HDL between 49 - 56. Also, all other numbers are within a few % of each other.

It seems like nothing much has changed in this area for me since 2010. Maybe there is not a lot to talk about then. Until, of course, something in the future changes.

I sent the Doc an e-mail wanting her opinion on the red numbers. Let's see what she says next week. Thanks all for commenting and providing the additional data.

 

[audreyh1]

Labs keep changing the ranges. You never know what they are referencing. Your doctor will have his/her own references so this is a good opportunity to find out their overall view.

With your Total Cholesterol below 200 and LDL below 100 and such low triglycerides even an old-fashioned doctor can’t complain.

A higher HDL often pushes up total cholesterol and then you can get the awkward situation with the doctor fretting about total cholesterol and not really listening when you say - but doc, my HDL is 98! and look my ratios are excellent!

 

[Alan]

I think the results look really good so it will be interesting to hear the feedback from the doc herself.

Given that you are on no meds to control your lipids and also your age, you must be eating and exercising well. Hopefully the doc will simply say “keep up the good work”.

 

[MRG]

The rest of my blood work is normal except testosterone is at the low level of the range.

Besides asking Doc about Low T, should there be any worries or questions about the low numbers in the table above?

If you want treatment for low T my recommended is to get to a specialist, urology helped me.

My bright, shiny female PCP looked at the same numbers, lectured me on how male doctors gave women too many hormones 50 years ago. We went through that lecture twice. Told me I was fine, no need to supplement. Wanted me to see a social worker because the problem was in my head.

The male urologist said my available T was very low and needed treatment, he said my PCP was looking at the wrong number. Based on results, he was correct. I had no idea how depressed and sick I've been for over a year. Your T level controls much more than just sex drive. I'm down 4 pounds in 3 weeks, eating 250 calories more than before I supplemented! I feel like I'm waking up from a year long bad dream.

 

[eytonxav]

The lab my PCP uses has HDL>39. I'd love to have an HDL reading like OP.

 

[aja8888]

I think the results look really good so it will be interesting to hear the feedback from the doc herself.

Given that you are on no meds to control your lipids and also your age, you must be eating and exercising well. Hopefully the doc will simply say “keep up the good work”.

The Doc returned my e-mail of last night and said I have no issues with the cholesterol numbers and I am doing just fine for a guy my age. OK..... I guess you get what you pay for with these wellness exams under Medicare (no discussion of the numbers or why the deviation, although slight, from the specified range).

As far as eating well, two years ago or so, I wanted to lose about 20 pounds that I had picked up over the last 20 years. I went on a self directed low carb diet to lose the weight. Well, the effort was successful except that I have slipped off over the last year while being caretaker for DW during her 2017 recovery from compression fractures of 5 vertebrae and a heart valve replacement. Consequently, the weight is back on.

But I will have to say that it is difficult to stay on a low carb diet while eating out a lot and ordering food in (I hate to cook and DW was not able to for a good while last year and was not too mobile).

Bottom line is my diet is not as good as it can be and I may be "genetically lucky" in that regard as far as it having a significant negative effect on my blood chemistry.

Exercise wise - these days, it's walking the dog a couple of miles per day and going for a three mile walk with friends on Wednesday night (and then going to a bar for a few beers). I gave up golf after a hip replacement a few years back. Years ago, I was a serious long distance runner and was in very good shape for many years (until around 1990). I'm certainly not getting enough exercise these days to say I am "fit". I need to change this and also the current diet (it's not really a diet, I just eat what's available).

 

[aja8888]

If you want treatment for low T my recommended is to get to a specialist, urology helped me.

My bright, shiny female PCP looked at the same numbers, lectured me on how male doctors gave women too many hormones 50 years ago. We went through that lecture twice. Told me I was fine, no need to supplement. Wanted me to see a social worker because the problem was in my head.

The male urologist said my available T was very low and needed treatment, he said my PCP was looking at the wrong number. Based on results, he was correct. I had no idea how depressed and sick I've been for over a year. Your T level controls much more than just sex drive. I'm down 4 pounds in 3 weeks, eating 250 calories more than before I supplemented! I feel like I'm waking up from a year long bad dream.

Thanks for the heads up. Just curious, but how to you take the supplement? Injections? gel application?

My current levels are:

Testosterone Tot 297.7 264.0-916.0 (ng/dL)

Testosterone Free 4.2 L 6.6-18.1 (pg/mL)

The reply from the Doc this morning is that to get on a program to increase these levels, I would need to have another blood test (to satisfy Medicare) and then go from there.

I'm going to do some research and see what options are available for a guy my age and whether or not it is a good idea to try to increase T.

 

[MRG]

Thanks for the heads up. Just curious, but how to you take the supplement? Injections? gel application?

My current levels are:

Testosterone Tot297.7264.0-916.0 (ng/dL)

Testosterone Free4.2 L6.6-18.1 (pg/mL)

The reply from the Doc this morning is that to get on a program to increase these levels, I would need to have another blood test (to satisfy Medicare) and then go from there.

I'm going to do some research and see what options are available for a guy my age and whether or not it is a good idea to try to increase T.

I use a gel, androgel. It's not cheap without insurance.

I'm finding I needed a second blood test and didn't get it. Now after supplementing for three weeks I don't know how long I'll need to go off in order to get it low enough. I swear the insurance companies just invent hoops.

 

[Alan]

The Doc returned my e-mail of last night and said I have no issues with the cholesterol numbers and I am doing just fine for a guy my age. OK..... I guess you get what you pay for with these wellness exams under Medicare (no discussion of the numbers or why the deviation, although slight, from the specified range).

As far as eating well, two years ago or so, I wanted to lose about 20 pounds that I had picked up over the last 20 years. I went on a self directed low carb diet to lose the weight. Well, the effort was successful except that I have slipped off over the last year while being caretaker for DW during her 2017 recovery from compression fractures of 5 vertebrae and a heart valve replacement. Consequently, the weight is back on.

But I will have to say that it is difficult to stay on a low carb diet while eating out a lot and ordering food in (I hate to cook and DW was not able to for a good while last year and was not too mobile).

Bottom line is my diet is not as good as it can be and I may be "genetically lucky" in that regard as far as it having a significant negative effect on my blood chemistry.

Exercise wise - these days, it's walking the dog a couple of miles per day and going for a three mile walk with friends on Wednesday night (and then going to a bar for a few beers). I gave up golf after a hip replacement a few years back. Years ago, I was a serious long distance runner and was in very good shape for many years (until around 1990). I'm certainly not getting enough exercise these days to say I am "fit". I need to change this and also the current diet (it's not really a diet, I just eat what's available).

Well, if your test results are like this with your recent “poor” diet and low exercise regime maybe it is in your genes. Also, it probably means that you have room to improve the numbers without meds if you can change your diet and exercise regime, however those numbers look pretty good to me and obviously raise no big concerns with the doc.

 

[aja8888]

Well, if your test results are like this with your recent “poor” diet and low exercise regime maybe it is in your genes. Also, it probably means that you have room to improve the numbers without meds if you can change your diet and exercise regime, however those numbers look pretty good to me and obviously raise no big concerns with the doc.

Agree, lots of room to improve diet and exercise and that's the plan. Even with good numbers, at my age there is a lot that can go wrong from a medical standpoint that could be more worrisome than cholesterol levels.

I also had an EKG with this check up and that indicated no issues. My direct family has no history of heart disease or diabetes, but there is a history of cancer. I need to be aware of that.

 

[Amethyst]

Lab reports highlight anything in red that's even a micro-something outside the recommended parameters. Yours sounds like the equivalent of a rounding error...I would love to have your numbers. They are more like my husband's, who will probably outlive me.

It was highlighted in RED and shown to be below the threshold listed on the sheet. That's why I ask.