High LDL cholesterol is when your level is above 70 mg/dl. If your HDL cholesterol is below 60 mg/dl, then it is considered too low and puts you at risk for heart disease, according to National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Your body needs cholesterol to make vitamin D, hormones and digestive enzymes. In fact, your liver produces most of what is required---your diet will provide the rest.
What Can High Cholesterol Cause
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, high levels of total cholesterol and LDL, low density lipoproteins, can cause coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. The cholesterol can stick together and build up on the artery walls causing a blockage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Having enough HDL, high density lipoprotein, can help remove the excess triglycerides and LDL cholesterol---reducing your risk of atherosclerosis.
Diet and Exercise Risk Factors
Your diet can play a major role in your cholesterol numbers. Eating a diet high in saturated fats and trans fats will provide your body with too much LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats can only come from animal products such as meat and dairy. Trans fats are created when oil or fats are hydregenated and can be found in hard margarines and many baked, prepackaged foods. Foods such as olive oil and nuts can increase your HDL cholesterol levels. According to the Mayo Clinic being obese or having a BMI greater than 30 increases your risk of having high cholesterol---as well as not exercising regularly. Exercising up to 60 minutes every other day can reduce your cholesterol level and prevent obesity, according to National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Other Risk Factors
One way you may be at risk to having an abnormal cholesterol level can be from a genetic defect where you body will over produce cholesterol or is unable to remove it from your bloodstream. Other, controllable factors that can increase your numbers include smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure your arteries are already at risk and when you add high cholesterol your chances of a blockage are much greater, according to the Mayo Clinic.
High HDL Cholesterol Levels
Because HDL cholesterol contains mostly proteins and very little cholesterol, it is recommended to have high levels in your blood stream. HDL cholesterol will actually help remove excess LDL cholesterol from your blood and prevent it from sticking to your artery walls. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, the higher the level of HDL in your bloodstream, the more protected you are from heart disease. In regards to your HDL cholesterol levels, the danger is when your levels are too low, below 60 mg/dl.
