First off, this is my 2010 January comprehensive health screening report.
As you can see from the report, my cholestrol level is high especially my LDL Cholestrol, which is bad cholestrol in short. As for my liver profile, SGPT/ALT is also beyond healthy level. My Uric Acid is also way above normal level and I was experiencing pain at both my hands whenever I consume alcohol (even a small can of beer). All other health results are normal except my high cholestrol level, high SGPT/ALT and my uric acid reading.
What does this mean?
Firstly, your blood cholestrol level has a lot to do with the chances of getting heart disease. High blood cholestrol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, the arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. Blood carries oxygen to the heart and when oxygen cannot reach the heart, you will suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely blocked out, you will suffer a heart attack.
High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware of the risks that they are facing. LDL (bad) cholestrol is the main responsibility of cholestrol buildup and blockage in the arteries. It is therefore extremely important to be aware of your LDL cholestrol level and to ensure it is within the acceptable range. This table shows the LDL cholestrol level and category.
LDL Cholesterol Level LDL-Cholesterol Category
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100-129 mg/dL Near optimal/above optimal
130-159 mg/dL Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very high
In general, the higher your LDL level and the more risk factors you have (other than LDL), the greater your chances of developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
Next, we move on to my liver profile. Everything seems normal except for SGPT/ALT.
Alanine transaminase (ALT) , also called Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) is an enzyme present in hepatocytes (liver cells). When a cell is damaged, it leaks this enzyme into the blood, where it is measured. ALT rises dramatically in acute liver damage, such as viral hepatitis or paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose. Elevations are often measured in multiples of the upper limit of normal (ULN). Normal values:5 - 40 IU/L.
Simply put, a high level of SGPT/ALT may indicate that the liver can be suffering damage. When a liver does not perform its functions well, it brings about many of the symptoms or problems associated with hepatitis.
Third thing I am concerned about is my Uric Acid level. Uric acid is a potent antioxidant and thus can protect cells from DNA damage. In our blood, for example, uric acid serves as an antioxidant and helps prevent damage to our blood vessel linings, so a continual supply of uric acid is important for protecting our blood vessels.
However, people who overproduce uric acid or under excrete it, may experience gout. In severe cases a person may fall into both categories, causing severe gout attacks over and over again. I am not particularly sure if I have suffered gout in the past but I am certain that for a few years in the past, I was not able to drink any alcohol. Whenever I consumed alcohol, my arms would be in pain for at least 12 to 18 hours. Even a small can of beer will cause me so much pain that it just wasn't worth it.
Luckily for me, after completing the weight management program, things changed. This year, I had another comprehensive health screening and the results are as follow:
If you compare my LDL cholestrol score, it dropped from 167 to 119. This dropped by a score of 48 and from high risk to near optimal health level. This is indeed a great new year's gift for me. I am also very happy to know that my risk of getting a heart attack is significantly lower. What this means to me is I am now healthier for my family and need not be a cause for worry to them.
I am also happy to highlight that my Uric Acid score has dropped from 8.6 (high) to 6.7 (within range). My pain from alcohol consumption is gone although I am still abstaining away from too much alcohol in order to maintain or further reduce this to a safer figure. The important thing here is I no longer have to suffer from pain in my arms whenever I come into contact with alcohol. Great!
Lastly, my liver profile of SGPT/ALT has also dropped from 42 to 15. Although there is no significant changes I can feel for this, still I am glad that my liver has improved. I believe for long term, this is beneficial for my health.
Overall, I am very happy with my new results as I feel that my life has been given a second chance. I was seriously not very healthy before and I am glad that things have changed.
For those who happen to read this post and are thinking about whether you deserve a better health or whether your family and love ones deserve a better you to take good care of them, I urge you to consider taking good care of yourself first.
Because only when you have taken good care of your own health, then you can give them the assurance that you can take care of their health. Contact me if you want to improve your health and I will share with you on how to become healthier, look better and see improvements in your life.
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