Health Shock: How I Found Out I Have High Cholesterol at 33

in #hive12 days ago

I knew it was coming, but hearing my doctor say, “At 33, you already have high cholesterol,” hit harder than I expected. Over the past few years, my sedentary lifestyle has left me anticipating bad news. Five years ago, before the pandemic, my waist measured 32 inches. Yesterday, I discovered it had ballooned to 41 inches—so much so that squeezing into my old jeans felt impossible. Working from home meant I’d stopped buying jeans altogether, opting instead for breathable cargo or jogging pants.

man-sits-bed-with-stomachache-presses-his-stomach-with-his-hands.jpg

Image Source

Last week, my right leg started hurting. My calf looked puffy, and my foot ached. My joints felt weak, but I could handle pain pretty well, so I tried to ignore it. But when the pain made it hard to walk, I knew I had to see a doctor.

At first, I decided to book an appointment with the Rehab doctor within our area, since it might be because of the joints, etc most likely I will be getting some physical therapies to alleviate the pain. Unfortunately, my schedule was in the afternoon and I cannot go. So I decided to cancel and look for another provider that is available in the morning.

Since google is the best friend of all if you feel that something is going on. I decided to search what could be my case given the symptoms that I am experiencing. According to what I have searched, it might be gout and because of that, I decided to look for a doctor that may be able to help. Luckily, April's doctor is an internist and her schedule is morning thus I decided to book an appointment and schedule a visit. I was the first one to arrive in the clinic at around seven in the morning and the doctor arrived at around 11. It is a first come first serve basis thus being early is important.

480957015_1193794175666611_7218420928096714188_n.jpg

During my first visit, she prescribed painkillers and steroids but emphasized that further treatment hinged on blood tests. After fasting for 10 hours, I completed the tests and received shocking results the next day.

The Breakdown:

Total Cholesterol: 308.9 (Optimal: <239)

LDL (“Bad Cholesterol”): 217.55 (Optimal: <130)

Triglycerides: 196.36 (Optimal: <150)

HDL (“Good Cholesterol”): 52.08 (Optimal: ≥60)

482117260_1393207995372702_4452558290468239655_n.jpg

lipid-table-927.png

Image Source

In short with the numbers given, I am already at risk of either getting heart attacks or blood clots due to excessive fats stored in my bloodstream.

I was advised by my doctor that since I am still young a change of lifestyle is a must if I want to spend more time and avoid further complications that may arise in the future.

So what is the main perpetrator of such? Aside from not being active anymore one of the contributors is my food intake. Fatty, processed meals are always prepared at home. I lived on the tagline of Zark's burger the greasier the better and almost all of my homecooked meals are fried. Stress is also a factor and me working in the nightshift has taken a toll in my body function.

I was given statins for my cholesterol management and some medicine for my liver as I am suspected to have fatty liver as well due to the build-up of cholesterol.

I am now planning to clean my fridge and remove some of the fatty foods around and replace them with a healthier alternative. I eat vegetables btw but in very few servings only.

Overall it is a huge wake up call for me to take care of myself seriously to avoid further problems in the future.

Sort:  

Hoy! You are too young to have high cholesterol!

I think this is the downside of whf set up, physical activities was limited. Unlike onsite, just walking alone going to work was a big help.

Foot ached usually due to weight gain. Felt that during last the trimester of pregnancy and post. Now , felt better as I lose some weight. (I no longer eat past 6pm)

Change lifestyle, along with maintenance 🥹, that could be managed.
Balik ka na sa dayon dahon na pinakuluan

True too young kaya nga nagulat yung doc that I have high numbers already. Yung WFH set up talaga at ang sarap lumamon.

Now , felt better as I lose some weight. (I no longer eat past 6pm)

Nakoooo inaayos ko pa ang body clock ko sa pagkain, sa ngayon di muna ako nagpapasiba sa paglamon, paunti unti lang. Matagal tagal pa ang bubunuin at ayoko talaga ng lasa ng isda. Nauumay na agad ako sa gulay din hahhaha.

Balik ka na sa dayon dahon na pinakuluan

Kambing it is!

Oh no, still you discovered it earlier so magagawan pa ng paraan. Healthy lifestyle is needed na din, so good luck on that. I hope mapababa sya as you start your healthy diet, more veggies and no more oily and fried kana talaga. Fighting 💪

Hopefully makayanan. Hirap pa naman at sobrang ma kolesterol ang mga ulam dito sa Pinas hahhaah.

Abay kayanin mo, tama na yong laga laga lang muna ng gulay. Haha, ikaw na mag luto para sure na safu

Sa true hay nako. Laban na ito. Hahah airfryer is da key.

Buti at pinacheck mo na rin agad. Habang binabasa ko nga akala ko gout din hahaha. Google talaga ang best friend ng mga nag sself diagnose 😂 Nakakatakot ‘yung numbers but at least you're aware na and you can start making changes. For sure hindi madaling mag adjust lalo pala at sedentary ang lifestyle mo TP. Galaw galaw na and more healthy food! Kaya mo yaaaan!

Hahaha true Google talaga is da key.Slowly starting to make changes, 1st day palang ako sa diet and parang ayoko na ituloy hahaha. Nakakagalit ang gutom lalo na at nag wowork sa gabi. Isama mo pa yung cravings jusme, patayo tayo ako sa upuan ko para lang ma distract at di magbukas ng chichirya o magprito ng kung ano man.

You'll get there, TP!
Nakakarelate ako sa gutom tuwing gabi 😂 Healthy snacks na lang para busog pa rin.

HHAHHA ayun ang problema wala ako maisip na healthy snacks.

Curious about HivePakistan? Join us on Discord!

Delegate your HP to the Hivepakistan account and earn 90% of curation rewards in liquid hive!

50 HP
100 HP
200 HP
500 HP (Supporter Badge)
1000 HP

Follow our Curation Trail and don't miss voting!

Additional Perks: Delegate To @ pakx For Earning $PAKX Investment Token


Curated by ruffatotmeee

[@PowerPaul:]

Hey buddy. The @CryptoCompany Voting Service and its trail were here!
Thank you for your support & Hive a great day!

You like to stay informed or support CryptoCompany or PowerPaul?
Here are our last 3 articles:
@powerpaul | [ENG/DEU] Again Testers Needed for New Website Stuff
@ccceo.voter | [ENG/DEU] CryptoCompany CCD Voting Service: recently processed votes & activities
@ccceo.voter | [ENG/DEU] CryptoCompany CCD Voting Service: recently processed votes & activities

!LOLZ

Naku, bata ka pa @tpkidkai. Pero ganyan talaga ang buhay. Our body responds to what we consume. We had similar problems when the pandemic happened and one of the things that we did was switch to coconut oil. Mas mahal ng kaunti pero after a few weeks, LDL went down and HDL went up significantly. Low effort pero high impact sa health. !PIZZA !DUO 😎


You just got DUO from @juanvegetarian.
They have 1/1 DUO calls left.
duo_logo
Learn all about DUO here.

PIZZA!

$PIZZA slices delivered:
@juanvegetarian(1/5) tipped @tpkidkai

Ako lakad lakad muna, gamit Actifit.

Ui ayos yan! Not using Actifit that much pero I might consider using it na.