More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 35 million of these Americans have levels high enough to put them at risk for developing heart disease. You can reduce your risk of cholesterol problems or suffering a heart attack, by understanding the impact of low good cholesterol and high triglyceride level.
Significance
Low good cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels mean you are at higher risk for developing heart disease. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream to cells of the body. Excess cholesterol builds up in the bloodstream and accumulates on the interior walls of blood vessels. Cholesterol can then harden which can clog arteries and prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching the muscles of the heart. This could result in heart disease, injury to the heart muscle and even heart attack.
Function
Your liver makes most of the cholesterol in your body; you get the rest through the food you consume. Cholesterol is present in every cell membrane in the body, and it is a necessary component in the production of certain hormones, like estrogen and testosterone.
Identification
Triglycerides tend to stay elevated for several hours after eating. It is important to be fasting, or going without anything but water to eat or drink, for up to 12 hours before having your triglycerides measured to ensure accurate results. Additionally, LabTestsOnline.org warns against drinking alcohol for 24 hours before having your blood drawn, as alcohol elevates triglycerides.
Range
HDL, known as good cholesterol, lowers bad cholesterol by scraping it from arterial walls and moving it to the liver where bad cholesterol is processed then excreted. High HDL level offers you the most protection from heart disease. HDL of 60 mg/dL or more is best, according to LabTestsOnline.org. Women whose HDL levels are below 50 mg/dL and men with HDL levels beneath 40 mg/dL are at elevated risk for heart disease.
Excess calories are converted to triglycerides and stored in fat cells for later use. High triglyceride levels put a person at special risk for heart disease. Desirable triglyceride levels are 150 mg/dL or less, while levels above 200 mg/dL are high.
Prevention/Solution
Diet, medications and lifestyle changes increase good cholesterol and lowers triglycerides. A low fat, low cholesterol diet that includes fresh vegetables, whole grain foods, fish and nuts helps restore cholesterol to healthy levels. Smoking cessation and an increase in exercise is also beneficial. Medications like niacin and fibrates are effective at lowering triglycerides, while statins raise good cholesterol levels. Omega-3 fatty acids can lower total cholesterol levels.
