Reduce your risk for heart attack by controlling your cholesterol. More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and 35 million of these Americans are at high risk for developing heart disease. Manage your risk of cardiac disease by understanding HDL, triglycerides and the role these cholesterols play in your body.
Function
Cholesterol is present in every cell membrane in the body and is essential to body function. Cholesterol is an important component in cell membrane development, as well as being vital for the production of certain hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. Cholesterol is also necessary for the metabolism of some vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K.
Risks
Your liver creates most of the cholesterol in your body. You get the rest when you eat. Cholesterol is not soluble in water because it is made of fat -- lipoproteins help cholesterol move through the bloodstream to the cells. Some cholesterol hitches a ride on low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, which can build up in the blood stream and accumulate along the inside of blood vessel walls. This accumulation can turn into plaque, harden and injure arteries, and narrow the amount of space within blood vessels. These conditions can prevent blood from reaching the muscles of the heart, causing chest pain or even heart attack.
HDL
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is considered good cholesterol because it scrubs low-density lipoproteins from within blood vessel walls. Higher levels of HDL provide more protection against heart disease. A person with HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher is considered at least risk, according to LabTestsOnline.org. Men with HDL levels below 40 mg/dL and women whose HDL is beneath 50 mg/dL are at increased risk for cardiac disease.
Triglycerides
When you eat more food than your body needs, it converts the excess to triglycerides, which is stored in fat cells. Triglycerides make up most of the fat digested by humans and are the main component in vegetable oil and animal fats. Triglycerides contain about twice the energy as carbohydrates and proteins. Alcohol raises triglycerides drastically. The healthiest fasting triglyceride level is 150 mg/dL or less, and a level of 200 mg/dL or more is considered high. Extremely high triglyceride levels can cause kidney damage.
Diagnosis
High cholesterol, including triglycerides and HDL, has no symptoms, and even thin people can have unhealthy cholesterol levels. Diagnosis is made through blood testing, which is offered through your doctor's office, health fairs or home kits. You will need to avoid having anything but water to eat or drink nine to 12 hours before testing to ensure accurate results.
Treatment
Confirm diagnosis with a physician before taking cholesterol medicine, but a heart healthy diet and lifestyle to raise HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides should be started as early as possible, even before cholesterol levels become abnormal. A low-fat, low-calorie diet full of fresh vegetables, whole grains and nuts can balance cholesterol levels. An increase in exercise and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, coupled with a healthy diet, can reduce the risk for developing heart disease.
