Should I be worried that my cholesterol level is 5.1?!
Question: I went to see the nurse at the gp's to get my yearly blood test done( missed last year due to pregnancy) she was taking family history & she said that my cholesterol level for my age (24years) should be about 3.5, she then checked & in 2006 it was 5.1 & said the gp must not be worried coz I don't have high Bp 118/72. I have to ring next week for results of the recent blood tests.
Family history on mums side inc.
Grandad, 2 heart attacks & bypass surgery x 2
Nan, high Bp
Mum, high Bp, Thyroid probs & stroke, cause unknown.
Uncle, diabetes, liver probs.
Dads family history inc,
Nan heart disease, kidney failure
Grandad 2 heart attacks.
Answers: I went to see the nurse at the gp's to get my yearly blood test done( missed last year due to pregnancy) she was taking family history & she said that my cholesterol level for my age (24years) should be about 3.5, she then checked & in 2006 it was 5.1 & said the gp must not be worried coz I don't have high Bp 118/72. I have to ring next week for results of the recent blood tests.
Family history on mums side inc.
Grandad, 2 heart attacks & bypass surgery x 2
Nan, high Bp
Mum, high Bp, Thyroid probs & stroke, cause unknown.
Uncle, diabetes, liver probs.
Dads family history inc,
Nan heart disease, kidney failure
Grandad 2 heart attacks.
I would not worry too much. There are dietary things you can do to reduce your cholesterol levels such as cutting down on fat and eggs especially.
If your GP was concerned then he would have put you on a medication for lowering your cholesterol.
Your BP is good.
You could also buy yourself a Bp machine from Boots and check it once a week if you are concerned.
I also urge you to discuss any fears you have with your GP.
You say you have a family history of heart disease so discuss these fears with the GP. You may also ask yourself other factors such as:
Are you obese?
Is your diet healthy overall?
Do you exercise?
Do you drink alcohol?
Do you smoke?
Anxiety CAN give you chest pains. I get them too so know exactly how you feel and what you mean. sounds like you keep active enough. Try and give up the smoking though as it will help. x
I say don't worry about it. Life is too short. I have high blood pressure but I'm just waiting to kick off. But if you wanna live, you might consider medication, though I have a theory that the whole cholesterol thing is a myth.
na its good you sould b between 4.8 and 5.8
I think 5.1 is totally reasonable, but probably would be better a little lower, but 3.5 is ridiculously low in my opinion. You can surf the net for more information on this. Some sites will tell you that it is dangerous to have very low cholesterol and I'm inclined to agree.
Eat plenty Oats, No.1 beater of cholesterol.
Just watch your diet,eat porridge and walnuts.You can buy also all those cholestrol products.Mine is higher and i have heart disease etc in the family.Some people have higher than others.I cant take tablets for it as i suffer ulcers.Also your gp or nurse can give you diet sheets.
I think it's good, mine is 5.5 and i have only 1 kidney with a family history of high blood pressure and diabetes and the doc tells me my level is fine!