Cholesterol/tightness in chest sometimes short of breath

[bccb]

I'm a female in my late 20's and every once in awhile I will experiences some shortness of breath and a feeling that if I breath in my ribs get a cramped feeling. Somewhat stabbing. It doesn't happen often but when it does it's bothersome. I've checked with my Dr. and was told it could be due to being low on iron etc. I have heart disease in my family and always asked about blood clots since I'm on birth control.

I had blood tests done awhile back and the results are:
Cholesterol:202
HDL:57
LDL:116
Triglycerides:145

Since I have premature heart disease in my family do these numbers present a risk for me? I was told my cholesterol is slightly high becuase I was recently diagnosed hypothyroid and that once regulated the numbers will go down, but before that all my cholesterol was really low.

[erijon]

Your cholesterol numbers are fine. They should be as follows;

Total; Less than 200
LDL; Less than 130
HDL; Greater than 50
Tri's; Less than 150

You numbers look great, some would say that in a person with a family history of CAD should have an LDL under 100, which would be very easy to do with simple diet changes. At your age I don't see anything wrong with your numbers. Cut out the empty carbs like sugars, breads and pastas and cut a little fat out of you diet and you can have a huge impact on your numbers but I don't see anything to worry about.

Hope this helps,

Jon

[bccb]

Hi,
Thanks so much. I'm working on the diet as of this past week, slowly incorporating changes with hopes that this time they will be lifestyle changes instead of diets.

[truetoherself]

I am obviously not a doctor but over 200 for cholesterol is high, especially for someone your age. I know they are high because of hypothyroid....but I am not sure it hasn't caused damage/blockage already.  My family has a history of heart disease.  I am 52 and my cholesterol was just slightly over 200.  They just monitored as it goes up with age and I am post menopausal.  About 6 or 7 year ago I had the exact same pains you described.  Then about 4 yrs ago I would get chest pains if I exerted myself, but not always.  Sometimes get pain for no reason.  I went in for a routine stress test and within hours they were doing an emergency triple bypass. I had no other health issues at all nor was I overweight.  Doctor said luck of the draw regarding heredity.  have you ever had an ekg?  It only shows once heart has been damaged though.  Stress test?  That shows more of course.  If I were you, I would ask for a stress test.  It can't hurt and given your family history a good idea.  If nothing else, it will rule out any heart issues.  Best of luck!

[erijon]

Sorry to hear of your issues, but someone as young as the OP with numbers right at recommended levels there is almost no chance of blockages. In addition, women of this age have a natural protective quality concerning heart disease.  

I am also not a doctor, but there is a line of thought that would suggest it is not wise to go in for unnecessary tests. Each time you go in for a test, even a stress test, you run the risk of a false positive which results in a more invasive and risky procedure. If a doctor has reviewed her results, history and risk factors they have decided this is most likely not heart related. In addition, pain from CAD is not usually of a sharp nature that is short in duration.

Just my opinion,

Jon