According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 98.6 million Americans have total cholesterol levels above 200 milligrams/deciliter, the threshold for being diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia. While the total cholesterol value is important, there are several other components or types of cholesterol that often get lumped into your total cholesterol score. To maintain a healthy heart, it's important that you understand the various components and what you can do about them. They include your total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), Lp(a) cholesterol and triglycerides.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a necessary substance for the proper maintenance of our bodies. It maintains cell wall structure, regulates fluids and produces hormones. Because cholesterol is insoluble in our blood (the chief way it gets distributed throughout our bodies), it must be enveloped in lipoproteins. The lipoproteins that should concern you the most are the low-density lipoproteins, also called the bad type of cholesterol. It's called the bad type of cholesterol because of its propensity to deposit along the inside of the arterial walls, causing plaque. Over time, enough plaque can completely occlude the internal diameter of the artery. If it happens to be the coronary arteries, then you may suffer from a heart attack. If a carotid artery becomes occluded, you can have a stroke. If it occurs with one of the major arteries in your lower extremities, you can suffer from peripheral artery disease, or PAD. PAD shuts, reduces or completely occludes the circulation to the lower extremities and can be very painful. Intake of dietary cholesterol, saturated fat and transfats can raise LDL levels.
HDL (Good) Cholesterol
One type of cholesterol called HDL cholesterol is often called the good type of cholesterol because it helps to reverse the effects of LDL cholesterol. HDL is thought to do two things. First, it prevents LDL cholesterol from accumulating on the interior walls of the arteries. Second, it scavenges LDL cholesterol from the arteries, carrying it back to the liver where it is excreted from the body. The higher your HDL cholesterol levels, the better. Two ways you can increase your HDL levels is by eating fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids and by getting regular aerobic exercise.
Triglycerides
While triglycerides are not actually considered a form of cholesterol, they are a type of blood fat. Elevated levels of triglycerides are considered a risk factor for heart disease and can be caused by obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, cigarette smoking, high alcohol consumption and a diet where the total caloric consumption is in excess of 60 percent carbohydrates. High triglycerides are often associated with high total cholesterol, high LDL and low HDL cholesterol. There is also a very high relationship between high triglycerides, diabetes and heart disease. The best way to reduce high triglycerides is by eating a diet that is no more than 50 percent carbohydrates and eating carbs of the healthy type--fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular exercise will also help to bring them down.
Lp(a) Cholesterol
Lp(a) cholesterol is a type of cholesterol that is less understood than LDL and HDL. Lp(a) is a genetic variation of LDL cholesterol, and high levels can contribute to the fatty deposits inside the arteries. The same factors that affect LDL levels affect Lp(a) levels.
