Short post. I'm confused. When I moved to Boston, I had trouble sleeping. I was in an unfamilar place, I was on a brand new schedule, and working long days. So I stopped taking the niacin regularly because when you can't sleep, you can't wait until you fall asleep to take it. And when you take it, and get the horrible flush, it makes it even harder to fall asleep.
So I assumed my cholesterol would skyrocket. I combated that with daily strenuous exercise and a really clean diet. I also walk a TON now during my commute.
When I met with my new primary care physician last month, I told her I had been really bad about taking the niacin. She was OK with it. She basically told me that while it has been shown to lower the numbers, it hasn't been proven to actually reduce risk factors for heart disease. So someone who takes niacin for high cholesterol may have good numbers, but still might have heart problems. She said we don't know enough, but that if my body wasn't adjusted to the flush after so many months on it, that I should stop. So I did.
And look what happened.
| 2/11/2013 | 4/5/2013 | 5/22/2013 | Normal | |
| HDL | 72.5 | 69.4 | 72.9 | 45-65 |
| LDL | 202 | 219 | 175 | 0-130 |
| Triglycerides | 130 | 129 | 105 | 40-150 |
| Total Cholesterol | 301 | 315 | 269 | 135-200 |
| Cholesterol to HDL ratio | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.5-5 |
Your Total Cholesterol of 234 is BORDERLINE
Your LDL of 66 is OPTIMAL
Your HDL of 151 is OPTIMAL
Your Triglyceride level of 85 is NORMAL
RATIOS:
Your Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio is: 1.55 - (preferably under 5.0, ideally under 3.5) IDEAL
Your HDL/LDL ratio is: 2.288 - (preferably over 0.3, ideally over 0.4) IDEAL
Your triglycerides/HDL ratio is: 0.563 - (preferably under 4, ideally under 2) IDEAL
On a related note, my thyroid levels are perfect. I haven't switched doses since...I don't know when. That's never happened! I've never forgotten how long it's been, because it's never been more than a few weeks!
3 comments:
I have not been following your posts of late but that's great that your cholesterol has come down! Was it because of the Niacin? Do you have any thoughts on weight loss other than just exercise and healthy eating because, for me, it is just not enough and I am struggling to shift the weight.
It can't be the Niacin as my numbers barely budged after several weeks on it, and then dropped significantly after more than a month OFF the Niacin. All my hard work, none of the drug's!
My endocrinologist suggested a strict calorie limit. I worked with a dietitian and found I am just not disciplined. I reward myself with food because I'm broke, so I can't take their suggestion to reward myself with a new outfit or a pedicure. I found that the key is habit - I eat the same thing every day at work. I work out at the same time every day and now it just feels strange if I don't work out. And of course I take one day off a week (or two if I have a particularly insane week or out-of-town guests
Post a Comment