Augie Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 I remember my cholesterol at 119 when I was younger. My doctor said "well, we know what's NOT going to kill you". I later heard beer lowers cholesterol, but I don't know if that's true. I very rarely have a beer now, and wonder where my cholesterol may land. I really would have a hard time eating much healthier, but genetics may screw me. My sister who is tall and lean, never smoked and walked several miles a day had quadruple bypass surgery a few years younger than my current age. She said after the surgery, the pain and all the restrictions "if I'd known it was going to be like this, I'd rather just have had the heart attack and died". Oh boy! I've had more bad doctors than good. Maybe I'd rather not know. I need to get one in my current state, I suppose. Roll of the dice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 I've you're prescribed any for you BP, take them with caution. I had a cardiologist prescribe me something for high blood pressure with a BP nearly identical to yours (135/80). Knocked me flat on my back for a week. Got better when I stopped taking it. My sister, who is a pharm rep (who happens to sell a lot of BP meds) told me the same thing. Use as a last resort. I'll go the exercise route, and I guess I'll restrict my diet even further. Take some omegas and smoke lots of reefer, and we're on a path to a healthy heart. Booooyah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 My sister, who is a pharm rep (who happens to sell a lot of BP meds) told me the same thing. Use as a last resort. I'll go the exercise route, and I guess I'll restrict my diet even further. Take some omegas and smoke lots of reefer, and we're on a path to a healthy heart. Booooyah! OK, I have to ask....what effect, if any, does pot have on BP? We were in Denver and Vail last week and saw quite a few shops, and that whiff was often unmistakable. Is it a good thing or a bad thing for BP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 OK, I have to ask....what effect, if any, does pot have on BP? Lowers yours, raises everyone's around you when you start preaching about how much more enlightened you are then them because you smoke "medicinal herb, and damn if Tom Petty isn't a musical genius." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Lowers yours, raises everyone's around you when you start preaching about how much more enlightened you are then them because you smoke "medicinal herb, and damn if Tom Petty isn't a musical genius." Well, that's good to know, and it made me chuckle, so that's good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 I had a bypass 7 years ago. I think it is tough, though not impossible to beat family history. My cholesterol was very high when I was in my 40's. Was on medicine at the time. If it comes to it, do not ignore chest pains. I probably went at least 5 years clogged up but lucked out by not having a heart attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Info Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 (edited) What was most shocking to me is that I have always had a cholesterol screening done as part of my annual physical. Never been an issue in the past. Just snuck up on me. Did you eat a big steak or siimilar food the day before your recent cholesterol test? That can have an impact on the value if that occurred. My cholesterol had always been in the normal range but one time it was quite a bit higher than normal & my doc asked what I had eaten the day before the test. I recalled ingesting a giant steak the night before that test which is atypical for me. He ordered a follow-up and I ate my typical diet the days prior to the test and it came back normal. Just stick with your normal diet before these kind of tests to make sure readings are normalized. Edited April 1, 2017 by Mr Info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 Did you eat a big steak or siimilar food the day before your recent cholesterol test? That can have an impact on the value if that occurred. My cholesterol had always been in the normal range but one time it was quite a bit higher than normal & my doc asked what I had eaten the day before the test. I recalled ingesting a giant steak the night before that test which is atypical for me. He ordered a follow-up and I ate my typical diet the days prior to the test and it came back normal. Just stick with your normal diet before these kind of tests to make sure readings are normalized. I don't think so. The test was Monday, and for dinner on Sunday I had pasta with ground turkey and mushrooms in the tomato sauce. I had a steak the Friday night before the test. I will be interested to see the cholesterol level when I go for my follow up in 6 months. OK, I have to ask....what effect, if any, does pot have on BP? We were in Denver and Vail last week and saw quite a few shops, and that whiff was often unmistakable. Is it a good thing or a bad thing for BP? Well, the experts at marijuana.com say that it lowers your BP in the long term. WebMD says it increases your heart rate by 2/3 times for 3 hours and lowers your BP in the short term. Should I start smoking reefer again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 We were in Denver last week and a lot of people were medicating for their BP, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 everyone should have less salt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 (edited) I was in same boat... Worse and worse as I got into 40s. Good to bad was terrible for cholesterol. Triglycerides were terrible. I have been on high blood meds since right after high school. Cholesterol meds for 20 years. I had high blood pressure since I was a teen... Even at 6'3", 190 pounds. They never had to titrate my BP meds through years even as my weight ballooned to 300 pounds... That was a saving grace. Its all diet. Of course my weight didn't help. Since getting back down to 200... Everything is perfect, all my numbers, my cholesterol med cut in half. Its age, diet, genetics, eating too much, too much meat and DRINKING TOO MUCH SUGAR. As you get older, gotta stop eating too much! Too much meat and sugar. It simply put my life in balance. Watch the calories. That means no alcohol basically too... I know, I know... But you can still have it occasionally. This post is all over the place... As usual... But I really got my dietary health back together to adjust for my age (born 1968). My teenage daughter eating a vegetarian diet was the jumpstart. I don't know what the hell happened, it just did. Note: I am in no ways depriving myself... I am enjoying life more than I ever have. Sugar! Sugar! SUGAR! NO! Especially high fructose as you get older. I basically eat everything else but stay within my base metabo daily rate. Good luck... Try no alcohol, a veg diet,and no low sugar, ample exercise, and cut 300-500k out daily for 6 months and tell me what your bloodwork looks like after that. Go "nuclear" for those 6 months and then reboot, move slowly back to eating meat, but continue new lifestyle. FYIW... I have had my bloodwork checked every 6 months for last 20 years... Liver numbers because of the cholesterol meds. It was amazing how deadly meat and sugar is! everyone should have less salt NO! That is a prob! Not "everyone"... Eat what you crave... Don't worry about what yoy are getting in food. Salt is a nutrient. No of course don't gobble the schit... Read the health anf fitness thread... Many links there. Most people cut it out, they go hypothyroid. Salt is needed, it is a nutrient! I actually add iodized salt more now!!! The Get your thyroid hyper. I bet many people count on their food for salt... Big mistake, probaly iodine deficiency most people have, leading to hypothyroid. Eat what you crave... Really, see link in Health & Fitness thread. Edited April 1, 2017 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Did you eat a big steak or siimilar food the day before your recent cholesterol test? That can have an impact on the value if that occurred. My cholesterol had always been in the normal range but one time it was quite a bit higher than normal & my doc asked what I had eaten the day before the test. I recalled ingesting a giant steak the night before that test which is atypical for me. He ordered a follow-up and I ate my typical diet the days prior to the test and it came back normal. Just stick with your normal diet before these kind of tests to make sure readings are normalized. For some reason, the board is lugging across all platforms and networks or I would have the energy to post more. There was a poster here that put my life in order by saying that to reset your circadian clock... Hard fast for 18-24 hours. I work swing shift... That advice is worth gold. Intermittent fasting! Really. Cut that meat, fat, and SUGAR out for 6 months, and moderately move back to that diet... MODERATELY move back to meat, a little sugar diet... I have tried every trick in book every 6 months for last 20 years. Again, I have watching my bloodwork every 6 months the last 20 years. Nothing works but hard work AND lifestyle change! People are ready when they are ready... Some never can make the leap to lifestyle change which is okay. If one is happy, then be happy! 138/80 isn't high. As for the lipids, take Lipitor. If you get muscle aches, or even if you don't, take coenzyme Q 10 with it. The new guideline is 120 or below. I am 39 and 5'10". Dropped from being a fat 213 pounds to a lean147 pounds and my numbers became terrific. I wonder if you should just drop some weight and do more cardio? THIS! I am bigger frame and at 6'3"... 190s to 210 keep my numbers all perfect! It's weight Hammer... Get that weight down to where JR is. Not sure if your frame is big, medium, small, adjust accordingly. 190slbs for 5'11" is too heavy at your age. I am over 6' and should be there. Give up alcohol, meat, and do cardio for 6 months... You will melt weight and watch thosr #s turn spot less! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewin Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 If you have family history or are worried about coronary artery disease (blockage) - ask your doctor about a Cardiac Scoring Exam. It's a CT scan to detect plaque buildup in coronary arteries. Could not have been simpler/easier - lie on a table for 2 mins, no IV or anything. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=ct_calscoring In my case there was a place by me that does it based on referral - for a flat fee of 150. My sister also found a place by her that was the same thing - flat fee with referral. For the cost/ease it was something that was definitely worth it as another data point (and peace of mind) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Oh... You should be within 10-20 pounds of what you were when you were 18. What were you when you were 18? I was in the 190s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 Oh... You should be within 10-20 pounds of what you were when you were 18. What were you when you were 18? I was in the 190s. When I was 18 I was around 185-190, but I was in the best shape of my life and was lifting 4-5 times per week. I was much more muscular then than I am now. I went from 205 to 190 within the past few months. I have been on my wife's diet, and she has gluten/dairy sensitivities. I eat lean meat (turkey, chicken and fish) and fresh veggies for just about every meal, but will treat myself every once in a while with a nice steak. I'm not a big fan of sweets, so I don't think sugar is the issue. I'm just going to continue with my diet, drastically decrease my alcohol intake, and start to do more cardio. I'm also going to start taking Omega vitamins and whey protein. I think I can drop down to 175 if I really work hard. Given my body type, I think that's about as low as I could go without looking like I just crawled out of a POW camp. Cutting down the alcohol is the hardest part of this. I usually have 3-4 drinks per night. Can't do that anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 If you have family history or are worried about coronary artery disease (blockage) - ask your doctor about a Cardiac Scoring Exam. It's a CT scan to detect plaque buildup in coronary arteries. Could not have been simpler/easier - lie on a table for 2 mins, no IV or anything. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=ct_calscoring In my case there was a place by me that does it based on referral - for a flat fee of 150. My sister also found a place by her that was the same thing - flat fee with referral. For the cost/ease it was something that was definitely worth it as another data point (and peace of mind) That's a great tip and a great price. Sure beats cardiac catheterization. Was that price after insurance payed or was that the exact price to get the procedure done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Reduce the sugar intake and get some damn exercise. Not saying you don't but the sedentary lives we lead are killing us. I was talking to my chiropractor and she said sitting is so bad for us. I realize "**** I even sit at the gym" (bike and weight machines) so now I used the treadmill. Met with a trainer the other day and he said I need 45-60 minutes of cardio not the 30 I've been doing. I'm not spending an hour on a treadmill. I'll walk the neighborhood hills instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Reduce the sugar intake and get some damn exercise. Not saying you don't but the sedentary lives we lead are killing us. I was talking to my chiropractor and she said sitting is so bad for us. I realize "**** I even sit at the gym" (bike and weight machines) so now I used the treadmill. Met with a trainer the other day and he said I need 45-60 minutes of cardio not the 30 I've been doing. I'm not spending an hour on a treadmill. I'll walk the neighborhood hills instead. This!!!! @ Seoul Taco in downtown Chicago and old lifestyle habit would have me reaching for a soda. Just old habit to reach for that poison... But just water is the best... Still having the bulgogi steak burrito and kimchi rice... Why wash it down with nasty HFCS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 HFCS v. Cane sugar... HFCS will tend to add more belly fat whereas canr sugar energizes all cells throughout the body. HFCS will throw off triglycerides.. Soda with HFSC is bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 This!!!! @ Seoul Taco in downtown Chicago and old lifestyle habit would have me reaching for a soda. Just old habit to reach for that poison... But just water is the best... Still having the bulgogi steak burrito and kimchi rice... Why wash it down with nasty HFCS! Thing is, I don't eat a lot of sugar. I don't really like cake, cookies, or candy...I'm more of a pickle and potato chip kind of guy. I don't even put sugar in my coffee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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