For many adults, the mention of cholesterol invokes its infamous association with heart attack and stroke risk. What's more, triglycerides can reinforce cholesterol's negative impact. Fortunately, simple yet invaluable tools exist to screen and prevent heart disease risk. A lipid profile, which includes cholesterol and triglycerides levels, is an example of such a test.
Significance
Present in almost all tissues, cholesterol is a multitasking substance. It is not only an indispensable component of all cell membranes, but also provides the backbone chemical structure your body needs to make vitamin D, bile acids and steroid hormones. Because your body is capable of producing all the cholesterol it needs, you do not need cholesterol in your diet to survive. As University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's biochemist Pamela Champe remarks in the book "Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry," your liver can make cholesterol from different sources, including glucose and fats.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is a transport molecule that picks up excess cholesterol in blood vessels and carries it to your liver to be eliminated. That's why doctors refer to it as "good" cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, HDL levels of 60mg/dL or more protect your heart against disease. In contrast, low levels increase your risk. HDL values are considered low when they fall below 40mg/dL for men and below 50mg/dL for women.
LDL Cholesterol
LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, transports cholesterol from the liver to various tissues. It earned its reputation of "bad" cholesterol from its tendency to accumulate in blood vessel walls when present in excess. As it does so, it forms a plaque that can narrow blood vessel openings enough to stop or reduce blood flow to your heart or brain. Ideally, your LDL should be lower than 100mg/dL, even though levels between 100 and 129mg/dL would still be normal. The AHA considers LDL values between 130 and 159mg/dL borderline high, while LDL levels that exceed 160mg/dL are high.
VLDL Cholesterol
VLDL stands for very low-density lipoprotein. Champe remarks that VLDL is a precursor of LDL. In other words, after the liver secretes VLDL molecules into the blood, some of them get converted into LDL. So, high VLDL contributes to plaque formation. However, Quest Diagnostics cites the distribution of triglycerides as the main purpose of VLDL. Optimal VLDL levels are 30mg/dL or lower, notes Quest Diagnostics.
Total Cholesterol
A total cholesterol count usually represents the sum of your HDL, LDL and VLDL levels. The optimal total cholesterol count for adults is a value lower than 200mg/dL For, according to AHA guidelines, that's the level that puts you in a low-risk category for heart disease. If your cholesterol count ranges from 200 to 239mg/dL, it is borderline high. Doctors usually speak of high blood cholesterol when your levels equal or exceed 240mg/dL.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat your body mainly uses for energy storage, particularly in muscles. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150mg/dL, while values ranging from 150 to 199mg/dL are considered borderline high. The AHA defines high triglycerides by levels ranging from 200 to 499mg/dL. Beyond 499mg/dL, your triglycerides would be considered very high. When combined with high LDL or low HDL, a high triglyceride count accelerates plaque formation, indicates AHA. Like high LDL and VLDL, high triglycerides can increase your heart disease risk.
Lifestyle and Diet
Admittedly, genetic factors may affect an individual's ability to control blood cholesterol and triglycerides. However, there are also modifiable factors that can improve your lipid profile. According to MayoClinic.com, the top five include losing excess weight, exercising on most days of the week. quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation and eating a heart-healthy diet. In a nutshell, a heart-healthy diet is low in cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats, but rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids.
References
- Quest Diagnostics: Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol Levels
- MayoClinic.com: HDL Top 5 Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Cholesterol
- "Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry;" Pamela Champe, Ph.D., et al.; 2005
