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Question about My Father's High LDL

Hello,

Thank you for your time!

My father is 81 years old, lives alone in india. He is physically active(walking and exercise bike every day) and socially active.

Every 6 months, his PCP does a bunch of routine blood tests. In March 2018, his values were as below:
1) LDL : 103.5 (first time his LDL was above 100)
2) HDL : 59.7
3) Triglycerides : 65.44
4) Total Cholesterol : 175.96.

His blood tests today had the following values:
1) LDL : 115
2) HDL : 50.5
3) Triglycerides : 66
4) Total Cholesterol : 178


Other Details:

1) In the blood test today, his HBA1C is 5.6. All other values in his CBC, Lipid profile, urine and stool tests were normal.

2) He has mild/moderate hypertension. He takes a daily Cilnidipine as advised by his cardiologist. His blood pressure has been controlled so far.

3) My father eats a healthy vegetarian diet of brown rice, nuts, fruits, vegetables:

Daily Calories:1800
Carbs : 277 g
Protein : 50 g
Fat : 57 g

4) He is 5 ft 3 inches in height, 123 lbs in weight, but his waist size is 36 inches.

5) On the morning of June 27, he felt dizzy as he was brushing his teeth and had to lower himself down on the bathroom floor. He went to ER - after a CT-Scan of the brain and a cardio-evaluation (Echocardiogram, Cartoid Dopple and Holter Monitor), the Cardiologist said my father does not have any cardiac problems.

Question:
I am concerned about his rise of LDL and decrease of HDL even though nothing in his diet and daily routine has changed. What kind of evaluation does my father need at this time? What else can he do to reduce his LDL and increase his HDL?

Thank you
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
973741 tn?1342342773
In all honesty, my husband has NO side effects.  You'd never know he is taking it.  And his LDL dropped very quickly so that he was within normal range.  He was not wanting to take the medication until he did and saw the difference in his numbers.  Worth it.  He did get routine lab work on a regular schedule the first year but that has been backed off now that he has been on it for so many years.  Let me know how your dad is coming along!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you again!  I will update you soon.
973741 tn?1342342773
In all honesty, your dad's numbers look pretty good!  I know they want ldl under 100 but he's close.  I'm sure you are a bit worried that they are inching up.  ---  this could be as simple as he was tired for a few days and didn't exercise before the test.  AT the next reading, make sure he is doing the life style things.  If it is still higher and still inching up, then by all means, you can consider a cholesterol lowering medication.  My husband has been on one since he turned 40!  He's been taking Lipitor,  No side effects for him.  And it controls his cholesterol very well.  But your dad for 81 is doing well it seems and hopefully you got his good genes!
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Hello SpecialMom,

Thank you for such a helpful reply!! I will let my father know.

Regards
great!  come back and tell us how he is doing!  Keep us updated!
Hello SpecialMom.

Following is an update:

My father's primary care physician(PCP) did a repeat LDL yesterday and the value was 101. It was 115 last month. The PCP has prescribed Atorvastatin (5 mg) for 20 days. If my father has no side-effects in the 20 days, he was asked to take Atorlip for 6 months.My father's sugar and blood pressure values are  normal. All other values in his lipid profile are normal. When I asked the PCP why is the statin medication needed, he advised that its given as a preventive measure for heart attacks/stroke as my father has hypertension (controlled with a daily Clinidipine  -5 mg).  He also said since the normal dosage for Atorvastatin is 80 mg, he does not expect any side-effects with 5 mg.

Given your experiences with your husband, kindly let me know your comments for the need for Atorvastatin at this time for my father and the potential for side-effects.

Thank you

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