DH and blood tests

[Orangesandlemons77]

I managed to get DH to go for one of those over 40s health checks at the GP. He's mid 50s and a drinker.

He's thin and does run and swim, the blood pressure came back OK and they didn't do the HB1AC test.

But the cholesterol came back very high (over 8 in total) his QRisk score was 7. Also he is anaemic and they want to repeat that test.

Also his resting heart rate was low (around 50)

Had a look online and some of these things seem to be linked with alcohol. Although he doesn't eat red meat so that could also be linked to the anaemia. He's started an iron supplement.

Has anyone else found similar results with alcohol please? I'm worried about heart disease. I thought the GP might follow up the cholesterol test but they don't seem to have.

He also told them how much he drinks so they are aware of that. they told him he was having the weekly allowance in one night and asked if he wanted any help stopping- he said no.

I think the cholesterol being high might be ongoing. He did some blood tests for this research thing a couple of years back and it was over 8 then

The nurse doing the tests said it was due to fasting, which reassured him.

When I was 65 I developed atrial fibrillation (Afib) it's a cardiac arrythmia that can lead to stroke. It is NOT CVD but an electrical misfiring. Anyhow I had high cholesterol for a number of years but declined statins as I had friends who had terrible side effects from them. Anyway the reduction of risk of a cardiac event was not statistically significant enough for me, but of course I know everything lol!

In the course of diagnosing the Afib I happened to have a cardiac calcium CT scan, this shows calcium build up in the arteries (leading to plaque) which statins apparently help to avoid. Despite my high cholesterol my score was zero, the best it could be. Just shows you.

I do not and never did have CVD even with the Afib.

I'd go for a full check up under your insurance which you seem to have. That'll show up anything worth knowing.

The alcohol will be accounting for his high cholesterol
His resting heart rate is fine - Im 61, pretty active ( and a drinker ) and mine is 54

Did they not do LFT's ? I get mine done every 6 months - because Im a heavy drinker/ over 60 and have familial hypertension that's treated

They do LFTs in monitoring his other meds (Humira) and I think they have always been OK (otherwise they wouldn't keep prescribing it) Mind you would they not be OK until significant damage had occurred perhaps

Ok I’d say that is too much. It would be better if he could bring it down. 3 nights a week off is good. Could he stick to one 250ml glass on the nights he does drink? I think he should move away from drinking a whole bottle.

You know him best and whether it’s realistic for him to not drink at all. He would have to want that for it to work and you pushing for it could be a source of friction.

Yes I don't want to nag about it. He doesn't seem able to stop after a glass or two which is a worry.

So your real concern is his alcohol intake?

Well everything really. But yes I guess that may be the main problem, and a solvable one which is annoying if it is leading to the problems and could be changed.

I've got some health problems myself and not much can be done about it, so it's frustrating seeing someone harm themselves with alcohol.

I know the mantra for is it Al anon thought you can't cure it, don't cause it etc

My cholestrol is a bit high. But my "good cholesterol" is SUPER high, my blood pressure is ridiculously good, and based on my other tests, my risk of heart disease is, apparently, quite low.

Your DH probably drinks too much but it sounds like he's fit and healthy - a heart rate of 50 in a man who is the correct weight, and very fit, is a good thing - with low blood pressure. The low iron is pretty common and can be relatively easily fixed with supplements. I'd say he sounds relatively good all things considered, notwithstanding that drinking a bottle of wine alone af ew nights a week is definitely NOT ideal.