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Tips on raising HDL?
I’ve always had cholesterol issues. I had a clean nuke stress test and am on statins. Good calcium score of 7. However, my doctor wants to increase my statins from 40 to 60 to get them below 70 (they are 82). I am 61 and about ten pounds overweight, trying to lose it. My HDL is 53. I exercise 150 minutes a week or more. I keep my exertion (treadmill or elliptical) for a minimum of 117 and try to stay between 128-135 for four minute, then 120, etc. Interval training is my goal for at least 45 minutes to an hour. My doctor recommended that I aim for a higher heart rate longer to boost my HDL. I get a little anxious about feeling winded and as a worrier, wonder if a nuclear stress test is really accurate. She says I did well and things look normal. Any tips for boosting HDL? I’ve added more veggies, fruit, fiber to my diet. Thank you.
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"Systemic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown to positively influence lipid profiles, typically increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
In response to your previous mention of aspirin use for cardiovascular health:
While aspirin is commonly used for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, there are safer alternative approaches. Tadalafil, initially developed for coronary artery disease (CAD), has demonstrated pleiotropic effects, including potential benefits for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and bone health. Some studies suggest it may reduce certain cardiovascular events by approximately 30%. Although originally indicated for CAD, its use has been hijacked. It's worth noting that tadalafil (Cialis) is available over-the-counter in the United Kingdom.
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4 Reactionsyou didn't say what your cholesterol nor your LDL is. Why would you just focus on one number. Its a ratio that is important. Also, the cholesterol numbers are becoming less important in light of other newer and better tests as markers for heart and vascular disease. LPa and APOE and many other lipid panels are being used to complement old cholesterol tests.
To answer your question. I couldn't get my numbers to move for 10 years. Then I had a Ukranian refugee come live with me and I dropped my cholesterol in 2 months from 240 to 195. When she left it went back to 240. So I repeated my diet of salmon, sardines, cod, tilapia, and more fish! It went down again! So I eat more fish! I do all the other good stuff. But it was the fish.
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2 ReactionsYour HDL numbers might also be genetic: I've been on the cholesterol journey for more than 40 years (I'm 69) and my HDL has never been higher than yours, other than the time I was in a clinical trial of massive amounts of niacin (3000 mg/day), which is not recommended. I exercise 5-6 days a week and look to get my heart rate in the mid 150's for at least a reasonable part of that time, whether it's a steady but quick pace or interval training. As loriseco noted above, diet plays a part, consider a higher level of exercise, and that might be all you can do.
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3 ReactionsGood info on the fish.
Isn't APOE the gene for alzheimers? Or did you mean ApoB?
ApoB is important and also APOE
(Apolipoprotein E) affects lipid levels by modifying lipid metabolism and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. The APOE4 allele is associated with triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation in glia, as well as modulation of immune reactivity. APOE is a lipid-binding protein that transports triglycerides and cholesterol in multiple tissues.
The APOE gene gives your cells instructions to make apolipoprotein E. This protein merges with fats (lipids) to form lipoprotein molecules. Lipoproteins carry cholesterol and other fats through your bloodstream.
There are three types (alleles) of the APOE gene:
APOE-ε2 (APOE2).
APOE-ε3 (APOE3).
APOE-ε4 (APOE4).
All humans inherit one copy of the APOE gene from each of their biological parents.
The combination of alleles may increase your risk of certain health conditions by affecting how your body is able to move cholesterol and other fats through your bloodstream.
Any studies on the use of tadalafil and CAD for women?
Cool. 23andMe tests for APOE-ε4 (APOE4) and I don't have that one. Do doctors test for the others?
My LDL is 82, HDL 53, Triglycerides 76. Much of this is genetic: when my oldest daughter was 17 and a competitive swimmer who practiced six days a week for four hours, and her HDL wasn’t fabulous. However, I’m adding omega 3 to my diet, committed to losing weight, and will check again in three months
Color me confused!
My HDL is 90, LDL 83, Triglycerides 45. I'm 78 years old.
What raised my HDL, lowered my Triglycerides, lowered my blood glucose, and lowered my blood pressure was switching to a low-carb eating plan from a low-fat plan.
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