Healthy or unhealthy cholestrol level

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi, Great to find a service like this..reaching out to the people in need is an example others must follow..really what makes this profession so divine.. My father's age is 54 total cholestrol level is 132 HDL 41 LDL 69 Triglycerides 110 no other heart surgeries done no record of heart failures He is currently prescribed on an intake of Storvas.Do you think this cholestrol level requires the intake of drugs. Do you recommend that he take any drug at all if so what?

Dear Rajeev:

I realize how concerned you are about your father's current treatmetn. In my opinion, according to the lipid levels you provided. Apparently the numbers seem to be fine; no diagnosis of high cholesterol could be made from those values.  It would have been helpful to know his previous lipid levels and the date when he started taking that medication to see if the current levels were caused by the medication.

If he previously had increased levels of cholesterol, certainly it would be beneficial for him to continue taking his medication. There are also other factors that are taken in consideration when prescribing lipid lowering agents, age, history of cardiac disease, obesity, etc. His doctor might have identified risk factors that require the prescription. I would suggest you to talk to your father’s physician for a more detailed explanation on his current medication. I wish you the best.