I am so worried and upset!
My full blood report came back yesterday and it was NOT good news!
I have been having elevated blood cholesterol for the past 5 years already... or since I started doing my annual blood screening. But it has been marginal. I was totally shocked ( and felt slightly faint!) when I saw my cholesterol readings yesterday.
Here is the summary:
2009
Total cholesterol 6.3 mmol/L
HDL 1.5 mmol/L
LDL 4.3 mmol/L
Triglycerides 1.2 mmol/L
2007 2006
5.6 5.2
1.49 1.33
3.7 3.55
0.8 0.7
2005
6.0
1.9
3.7
1.4
I didn't do in 2008 coz I was pregnant at that time. According to my gynae, the readings wouldn't be accurate.
Looks like 2009 is the worst year although 2005 was pretty high too. Wonder why it was so high at that time? Anyway, whatever it is... my arteries are pretty clogged up now. I can picture all the fatty deposits narrowing my arteries.
First thing that came to my mind was... what can I do now?
No.1 - Change my diet?
Ah yo. Right now I am so skinny already and I eat pretty healthily. I hardly eat all those fatty pork and red meat. Even seafood is a once a month affair. I do eat eggs but only about 3 times a week and that is 2 eggs shared by 3 people. I can't imagine how it can affect my cholesterol level. Fried food too is a very rare treat to me. My favourite most high cholesterol food would be duck rice but I only indulge in that once in 2 weeks the most. My breakfast is also pretty simple but I guess eating kaya and peanut butter isn't very healthy if it is an everyday affair.
After evaluating my eating pattern, I guess I don't eat much fatty foods but I also don't eat very healthily. So, I have to incorporate more vegetables in my diet, cut down on my meat intake, eat more fish (which we hardly do) and for breakfast, a bowl of oats every morning.
I suppose I can start like that first and see how it goes after 3 months.
No.2 - Exercise?
Okay... I admit that I don't exercise at all! But I don't lead a sedentary lifestyle either. I am on my feet for almost the entire day. Either doing housechores or running around here and there getting stuff for the house. I find myself rushing and my heartbeat beating rapidly most of the time coz there isn't enough time in a day to do everything.
So my plan is... once dropping Ryan at school.. to run around the park near my house at least 3 times a week. Possible? Need new running shoes first!
No.3 - Supplements?
First thing I would do when I get to work is get a pack of Hypocol. It is red yeast rice extract in capsule form and it helps lower cholesterol level similar to the statins. Minus the side effects apparently. I have many customers who take this supplements as a subsitute to the statin groups... and i have seen cases that work and some that don't. I will give it a try for 3 months.
No.4 - Family History of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
My mother died at the age of 60 because of stroke. My dad has diabetes, high BP and cholesterol too. So, in some ways, I don't think I can run away from my fate of having CVD. It is a matter of confronting it and dealing with it.
This recent cholesterol reading probably has shaken me most coz I feel I must take more responsibility for my health now since now I have 2 children and I am not getting any younger. 33 years old still very young and if I don't take care now, I don't think I may live to see my grandchildren! Seriously.
