Vaughn's Summaries

Medical Summaries
Heart Health

What are your cholesterol numbers?
What are normal cholesterol levels?
What is normal cholesterol range?
What is high cholesterol? This page answers these questions.

Have you had your cholesterol count checked lately?
Here is a table showing my cholesterol test numbers from Long's Drugs (now CVS Pharmacy), at 2-year intervals, in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. By testing your cholesterol levels more than once, you can see your trend over time.

30

390 - 450

30

 
Normal Cholesterol Levels Chart

1. The cholesterol numbers shown above are established by the American
    Heart Association.
2. The scales are linear.
3. The vertical alignment of the scales is arbitrary, and was done to align
    the white borderline areas, in order to facilitate comparisons.
4. The LDL levels shown with an asterisk are recommended for certain
    high-risk subjects.
5. As you can see, my cholesterol levels remained fairly stable over
    a 7-year period.

Do you need to lower your high cholesterol numbers? You may need to
    take statin drugs.

Cholesterol Numbers Table
Cholesterol Testing Guidelines

Total Cholesterol Test - $12 at Longs Drugs
(CVS does NOT offer testing - Testing now available at Whole Foods)

-

1. Total
Cholesterol  

-

milligrams per deciliter
Reduce saturated fat
240 = twice risk than at 200.

-

-

 2. HDL
(normal risk group) 

-

Good Cholesterol -
Higher is better
Can't be too High

(high risk group) 

-

-

Total Lipids Test - $32 at Longs Drugs
(CVS does NOT offer testing - Testing now available at Whole Foods)

-

1. Total
Cholesterol  

-

milligrams per deciliter
Reduce saturated fat
240 = twice risk than at 200.

-

-

 2. HDL
(normal risk group) 

-

Good Cholesterol -
Higher is better
Can't be too High

(high risk group) 

-

-

-

-

3. LDL  

Bad Cholesterol -
Lower is better.
Can't be too Low

-

-

4. Cholesterol
Ratio 

Total Cholesterol / HDL

 Triglyceride Test - $10 at Longs Drugs -  
Fasting for 12 hours is required
(CVS does NOT offer testing - Testing now available at Whole Foods)

-

5. Triglycerides  

-

Must fast 12 hours
before testing -
drink only water.

     (low risk group)

-

-

The tests above were made at Longs Drug Stores (now CVS Pharmacy) by Heart Watch, specialists in Corporate and Public Health Screenings.
Visit their website at WestCoastHealthServices.com,
to find the next testing date in a California city near you.
CVS Pharmacy bought Long's Drugs, but they do NOT offer the testing.
This same testing is now offered at Whole Foods.

You should have your cholesterol numbers tested periodically.
If the LDL test numbers are too high, take action.
Test again after a few months.

You can reduce your high cholesterol naturally,
but it takes DILIGENCE!
You just have to try hard.

My Daily Regimen
Fish Oil - 3 capsules
Flax seed oil - 1 tbl
Psyllium (plantago husks)
Lecithin granules
More fish, less meat
Green Tea

Avoid TFAs - trans fatty acids.
Hydrogenated = Plasticized
Partially hydrogenated = partial plastification, PLUS resultant, unpredictable Trans Fatty Acid production.

Every day, I prestir together (dry) -
2 heaping tsp of bulk psyllium husks, and 2 heaping tsp of SOY lecithin granules -

Then, I stir vigorously while adding 8 ounces of lukewarm water - take a deep breath, and swallow the mixture in about 12-14 swallows. Great for the bowels and great for the arteries.

READ the Ingredient LABELS like crazy.
If the word "hydrogenated" appears in ANY form, don't eat it .
The worst offenders - Cakes, candy bars, cookies, corn chips, crackers, cup-o-noodles, doughnuts, fish sticks, french fries, frozen waffles, microwave popcorn, pastry, pies, potato chips, salad dressing, vegetable oil, vegetable shortening, etc., to name a few.

Here is an excellent in-depth discussion of Trans-Fats in Foods.

Did you have time for, and appreciate the link above? Got more time? Wanna be blown away by official government data? Everything Added to Food in the United States - an EAFUS PDF - over 3,000 additives.

Stop Smoking
Exercise Daily
Reduce Weight
Eat a low cholesterol diet
- more fruits and vegetables, less red meat

Reduce Saturated Fat Intake - Fast food, prepared food
- NO TFAs! (trans fatty acids)
- NO hydrogenated anything
- NO partially-hydrogenated anything

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