Signs that your blood pressure and cholesterol are in bad shape

[Zero Tolerance]

Since some people are going to go about taking AAS and prohormones without getting checked out, what are some of the symptoms of high blood pressure and low HDL/ high LDL?

Nosebleeds can signify high blood pressure. Correct?

 

[Malek256]

FYI -- bad cholesterol can be totally symptomless. Mine was. Slightly low blood pressure, resting heart rate 62, under 10% body fat, etc. Sounds very good.

Cholesterol at 6:1 ratio....very bad.

High BP can also be symptomless: Invalid Link Removed

 

[DuiLee]

This is slightly related I guess, but what kind of doctor do you go to to get your lipid profile and test. levels checked out? Can I just make an appointment with a normal physician or do I need to see a specialist?

 

[Malek256]

You just need a blood test, then check the numbers yourself. If you can, see if they'll do C-Reactive Protein as well, gives you a real good idea of vascular health.

In Canada where I live, getting a test is a pain in the butt because you have to get a doctor to agree that you need it (gov't. pays for your test you see so they don't want to pay for what you don't need...except the trip to the doc is useless and so they end up paying for both the trip to the doc AND the blood test, so stupid...)

 

[pcn]

My company pays for an annual physical, so I asked for a copy of the blood work print out. Otherwise, the clinic charges $18 to test for cholesterol. I believe Testosterone level tests are much more; liver value tests are comparable to cholesterol tests. Larger cities/towns have those "doc-in-a-box" type clinics where you don't need an appointment and can specify what you want done. My clinic has started making me sign a form that says I understand that the test may not be covered by insurance, since they only pay for "X" tests per year, unless directed by the doctor.

 

[ersatz]

Cardiovascular disease is often referred to as the "silent killer". It results from among other things high blood pressure and skewed lipid profiles. The problem is that there may be no symptoms of either elevated bp or lipids. This should be of grave concern as I believe cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes kill more people than AIDS, cancer and other ailments combined. Therefore you should have levels checked yearly and run proper supplementation and diet year round, not just for ph/ps/aas cycles.

As for symptoms, there aren't too many for elevated lipids but ther are some for bp, including headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and blurred vision. I haven't seen any studies showing nose bleeds associated with increased bp due to androgen usage. I did see a few studies that showed other drugs that caused a rapid 10-20% increase in bp that would result in nosebleeds. If the drug was taken for more than 3 days nosebleeds were one sign of elevated bp. It seemed that this had a higher correlation in elevations in diastolic pressure. It seems reasonable to assume that steroids which act in the same manner of fairly rapidly increasing bp especially diastolic could also cause nose bleeds.

 

[Old Guy]

Cardiovascular disease is often referred to as the "silent killer". It results from among other things high blood pressure and skewed lipid profiles. The problem is that there may be no symptoms of either elevated bp or lipids. This should be of grave concern as I believe cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes kill more people than AIDS, cancer and other ailments combined. Therefore you should have levels checked yearly and run proper supplementation and diet year round, not just for ph/ps/aas cycles.

As for symptoms, there aren't too many for elevated lipids but ther are some for bp, including headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and blurred vision. I haven't seen any studies showing nose bleeds associated with increased bp due to androgen usage. I did see a few studies that showed other drugs that caused a rapid 10-20% increase in bp that would result in nosebleeds. If the drug was taken for more than 3 days nosebleeds were one sign of elevated bp. It seemed that this had a higher correlation in elevations in diastolic pressure. It seems reasonable to assume that steroids which act in the same manner of fairly rapidly increasing bp especially diastolic could also cause nose bleeds.

Good post.
I was about 4 weeks into an M-1T/4AD cyp cycle.
I had a very mild "dull" headache for 3-4 days and decided to check my BP. It was 175/115. The next morning before I got out of bed I checked it again and it was 170/113.
I went to Dr. the next day and had bloodwork done. My total cholesterol was 236, a little high, but my HDL was 17. My Dr. said I was high risk for a heart attack, and I had no idea.

 

[Renton405]

Just wondering..

Can Lipitor combat the cholesterol efffects of AAS/PH usage.. Would adding lipitor to a stack be okay as a safeguard?

 

[Baumer]

Just wondering..

Can Lipitor combat the cholesterol efffects of AAS/PH usage.. Would adding lipitor to a stack be okay as a safeguard?

That was my question as well, I posted a thread on this. I was considering taking it while on SD and Max LMG. My only concern is how it can effect liver values.

 

[50joe]

Of course with all of those cholesterol lowering drugs, like lipitor, comes all the side effects from taking THOSE! Never ending circle.

Horribly high cholesterol has run through my dad's side of the family forever. Most his side have died of heart attacks. (I must have gotten my mom's genes, because my HDL/LDL 's are very good, even when I wasn't eating right)

My dad was on and off of a bunch of cholesterol meds, and they all had sides, and were all reported common by people, but the doctors didn't seem to care.

Lipitor was the one that i believe he stopped taking because of extreme soreness in the body and especially back. He was the one who got me into weight lifting, and he had to quit during the lipitor treatment due to this problem.

Just seeing my father go through all the trials and tribulations of heart surgory, and all the meds and tests and sides, from my personal experiences, i would not reccomend someone to 'stack' a cholesterol med with their muscle building stack. But this is but one experience, so please, take it with a grain of salt.

I just think prescription cholesterol meds still have a ways to go. Anyway, the disclaimers on them still says how it won't reduce the risk of a heart attack IRONICALLY ..... so you know they are still working on it..

And instead of symptoms, you should really just go get a blood test. It will tell you what you want

 

[rhinochaser48]

Just wondering..

Can Lipitor combat the cholesterol efffects of AAS/PH usage.. Would adding lipitor to a stack be okay as a safeguard?

It probably won't do much good. Afterwards, on the other hand, might have a slight benefit. I'm not familiar with how the drug works or how long it takes to work, but I'd guess if you are healthy, active, with a good diet, you won't be able to improve the process much. Besides, statins have their own side effects.

 

[ersatz]

Just wondering..

Can Lipitor combat the cholesterol efffects of AAS/PH usage.. Would adding lipitor to a stack be okay as a safeguard?

Lipitor can combat the negative impact of AAS/ph/ps on lipid profiles. I wouldn't take statins in conjunction with 17a alkylated compounds due to possible liver toxicity. There are OTC supps that can protect lipid profiles while not posing as much risk of hepatoxicity. It would be wise to take one of htese OTC supps during if not before your actual cycle to prevent or minimize the affects that AAS have on lipid profiles. If Lipitor is your only option I would wait until PCT to take it.

 

[cincyman]

Good post.
I was about 4 weeks into an M-1T/4AD cyp cycle.
I had a very mild "dull" headache for 3-4 days and decided to check my BP. It was 175/115. The next morning before I got out of bed I checked it again and it was 170/113.
I went to Dr. the next day and had bloodwork done. My total cholesterol was 236, a little high, but my HDL was 17. My Dr. said I was high risk for a heart attack, and I had no idea.

Of course you Cholesterol levels were outta wack M1T really screws with your levels run you PCT when you're done with your cycle, take a few weeks off after PCT and then have your levels checked again.

 

[Jay Mc]

If you are having symptomatic high blood pressure you're already in trouble and have likely already caused damage to your vascular system. Your best bet here is daily monitoring. Either buy a little home deal or go to walmart, drug store, etc. and use their little machine. Whatever you do, just use the same machine/method each week.

Cholesterol will only show up on a blood test that you can get at any office or if you've already had a previous history of hypercholesterolemia it may manifest in very unpleasant ways. Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase that works at the rate limiting step of cholesterol production in the liver. They are contraindicated for people w/kidney and liver problems so probably not ideal here. In addition they require low fat, low cholesterol diets to work the best. Other drugs will block the reabsorption of bile salts and thereby cholesterol too. None of them are very practical for use while trying to eat lots of calories. I hear niacin works well but I don't know the mechanism. Look for things that will increase HDL and lower LDL.

 

[Old Guy]

run you PCT when you're done with your cycle, take a few weeks off after PCT and then have your levels checked again.

I should have added that this was 1 1/2 years ago, and exactly what I did.
Also went on BP and cholesterol meds, and after about six months my lipid profile was better than its ever been.
You may think you're in the best shape you've ever been in , but you don't know unless you have regular blood tests.

 

[qalabim]

You just need a blood test, then check the numbers yourself. If you can, see if they'll do C-Reactive Protein as well, gives you a real good idea of vascular health.

In Canada where I live, getting a test is a pain in the butt because you have to get a doctor to agree that you need it (gov't. pays for your test you see so they don't want to pay for what you don't need...except the trip to the doc is useless and so they end up paying for both the trip to the doc AND the blood test, so stupid...)

C-reactive protein is not always acurate, many things going on inside your body can alter. working out can alter it because it is the c-reactive protein is higher in your body if your muscles are rebuilding. Other things such as a broken bone can also alter it. Don't get me wrong it is a really good test but things like this for people like us who work out quite a bit are not going to be accurate. I work for Quest Diagnostics and sell this test so I am not pulling the info from my ass.

 

[qalabim]

Just another point, 50% of people that have heart attacks have normal to moderate lipid levels. It is important to be tested for other things when assessing vascular health. As mentioned above C-reactive protein is a good test but can be thrown off by a couple of factors. Another test that should be performed is your homocystein levels. Your doctor should know what these tests are.

 

[ryansm]

True, that's why you want a variety of tests, ie, lipids. c-reactive, homocystein etc. Your doctor can make determinations this way.