Got the job in the cardiovascular step-down unit, the one I really wanted. Never have I felt so much passion for something in my life.
Thanks, Dad. I know you helped me with that one. I'm going to keep fighting for you.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Not bad.
I have to admit I'm a little stunned. It wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. My total cholesterol was 207. That's the lowest I've ever had it tested at. I should be able to drop that just by diet and exercise. I really don't know what I was expecting, but I was afraid it was going to be much worse than that. That's borderline high. If anything, my blood pressure was worse than my cholesterol, but I can bring it down, too. Time is still on my side.
(For those of you thinking of course time is still on my side, because I'm only 26, put this into perspective: at age 26, my dad's [and grandfather's] life was already over halfway over. That is why I stress that heart disease prevention should start as early as possible.)
Total: 207
HDL: 45 (good)
LDL: 144 (a little bit too high but manageable)
Triglycerides: 93 (really good, that's what surprised me the most)
BP: 132/96 (systolic number is a little high, diastolic is too high so I need to work on lowering that)
I'm not completely pleased, but this is going to be much easier to bring down than I thought.
(For those of you thinking of course time is still on my side, because I'm only 26, put this into perspective: at age 26, my dad's [and grandfather's] life was already over halfway over. That is why I stress that heart disease prevention should start as early as possible.)
Total: 207
HDL: 45 (good)
LDL: 144 (a little bit too high but manageable)
Triglycerides: 93 (really good, that's what surprised me the most)
BP: 132/96 (systolic number is a little high, diastolic is too high so I need to work on lowering that)
I'm not completely pleased, but this is going to be much easier to bring down than I thought.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Cholesterol screen, take two.
I'm going to try this again in the morning. I was going to have it done a few weeks ago, but I apparently decided to get sick with a stomach virus instead. (They said fast for 12 hours, not 36!) Anyway, I already know it won't be less than 200, which is desirable. I am hoping for under 240. It has been as high as 248. Not good for someone who was 20 at the time.
Now for my periodic public service announcement:
The Methodist Wellmobile does frequent cholesterol screenings throughout the area that are free, and it doesn't take a lot of time to do. You do need to fast for 12 hours before the test. They give you your total cholesterol, HDL (the good cholesterol), LDL (the bad), triglycerides (fat that hangs out in the blood), and glucose. It's a simple finger stick so no blood draws are necessary (good for those of you that get nauseated at the idea of a needle). Your cholesterol levels are a good indicator of your risk for coronary heart disease and stroke, so knowing what yours are and taking the appropriate course of action to reduce high cholesterol, or maintain a normal level, is an important step toward maintaining a good quality of life.
I know, you've heard this all before...but it really can save your life.
If anyone is interested, here's the website with the screening schedule. They also offer other screens for a fee.
Schedule and locations
Note: You do actually want your HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels to be high, since these seem to bind with and carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it can be flushed from the body.¹ Physical activity can help boost your HDL, so there's a good excuse to get up off the couch (myself included).
So wish me luck. Hopefully the numbers won't give me a heart attack.
¹ http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vs-Bad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp
Now for my periodic public service announcement:
The Methodist Wellmobile does frequent cholesterol screenings throughout the area that are free, and it doesn't take a lot of time to do. You do need to fast for 12 hours before the test. They give you your total cholesterol, HDL (the good cholesterol), LDL (the bad), triglycerides (fat that hangs out in the blood), and glucose. It's a simple finger stick so no blood draws are necessary (good for those of you that get nauseated at the idea of a needle). Your cholesterol levels are a good indicator of your risk for coronary heart disease and stroke, so knowing what yours are and taking the appropriate course of action to reduce high cholesterol, or maintain a normal level, is an important step toward maintaining a good quality of life.
I know, you've heard this all before...but it really can save your life.
If anyone is interested, here's the website with the screening schedule. They also offer other screens for a fee.
Schedule and locations
Note: You do actually want your HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels to be high, since these seem to bind with and carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it can be flushed from the body.¹ Physical activity can help boost your HDL, so there's a good excuse to get up off the couch (myself included).
So wish me luck. Hopefully the numbers won't give me a heart attack.
¹ http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vs-Bad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp
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