What's a 'good' cholesterol result?

[HuwEdwards]

When I had mine done the nurse said the fact that I'd had a cup of tea in the morning would affect the result.

It came back as a 4 which I'm told was within normal range by the docs receptionist.

If the tea did affect the reading, would that make the reading higher or lower?

[foxinsocks]

I don't know - annoyingly, the receptionist never told me my level (hate doctor's surgeries where the receptionists read your results to you!)

I do know, time before that it was 5.8 and I was told that I was still ok so 4 sounds pretty good! Think also, it is more to do with the ratio of good and bad cholesterol.

[QuootieSpookypie]

Hijack - did you just go and ask to have one done? I dont know how I can go about getting one done. BTW, 4 I think is good - LuLu went to 4 on her advert

[HuwEdwards]

yes I asked because of history of heart disease. I'm assuming that they give you your 'bad' cholesterol result?? dunno tho.

[HuwEdwards]

should say history of heart disease in my family.

[throckenholt]

ask again - they should give you 2 levels (LDL and HDL)

Have a look \linnk{http://www.gp-training.net/training/clinical/chol.htm\here}

[throckenholt]

that says 5.2 or less is good.

[throckenholt]

here (try again)

[HuwEdwards]

thanks - but it was like getting blood from a stone getting the one figure out of her - as it looks like it's prob nothing to be immediately concerned about, I'll wait till I next visit the doc.

[Mercy]

Huw, I was going to start a fairly similar thread today!

Yesterday I went to my GP for a blood pressure/medication review. Unfortunately it was slightly raised even though I have been on medication for almost 6 months. He has now prescribed statins even though my cholesterol level is 5.2 (he said that the result is at the top end of the normal range).

There is a history of heart disease in my family too (father's side)