More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol, 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. Understanding the functions of cholesterol and the dangers of high cholesterol is important to improving your health.
Risks
Cholesterol is made of fat, which is insoluble in blood. Lipoproteins transport cholesterol through the bloodstream to the cells. Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, can build up in the bloodstream and accumulate on the inside walls of blood vessels in a process known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis narrows blood's passageway through arteries, increasing blood pressure and reducing the amount of blood reaching cells of the body. Reduced blood flow to the heart can cause chest pains. Blockages may prevent blood from reaching vital organs, causing nerve, kidney and heart disease such as heart attacks or stroke.
Testing
A cholesterol test determines your risk for heart disease. You will need to be fasting nine to 12 hours before having your blood drawn for accurate results. This means you cannot have anything but water to eat or drink before your blood test because many types of food elevate cholesterol. Do not drink alcohol before having your blood drawn. Alcohol drastically increases triglyceride levels.
LDL
A lipid profile measures at least four types of cholesterol, including LDL, HDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol. The healthiest levels of LDL are below 100 mg/dL, according to LabTestsOnline.org. As LDL rises, so does the risk for developing heart disease. A person with an LDL of 130 to 159 mg/dL has borderline high cholesterol. LDL levels above 190 mg/dL are very high, putting this person at great risk for heart disease.
Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol measures all types of cholesterol in the blood. The most desirable total cholesterol level is one less than 200 mg/dL. Higher total cholesterol levels increase the risk for heart disease. A person with total cholesterol of over 240 mg/dL has an increased risk for cardiac disease. A low fat, low cholesterol diet can lower cholesterol, especially when accompanied by exercise, smoking cessation and medication.
HDL
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is "good cholesterol" because it scrapes LDL from arterial walls and transports it to the liver, where cholesterol is processed and excreted with other body wastes. HDL should measure above 60 mg/dL for optimal heart health. Men with HDL levels below 40 mg/dL and women whose HDL is beneath 50 mg/dL are at higher risk for heart disease because they do not have enough beneficial HDL. Some foods increase HDL, such as fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids and the soluble fiber found in oatmeal or bananas. Medications such as niacin and fibrates raise HDL, especially when paired with smoking cessation and exercise.
Triglycerides
Excess calories form triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells for later use. Triglycerides results should be less than 150 mg/dL. Levels over 200 are high, and a triglyceride measurement over 500 is very high. High triglyceride levels are sometimes a sign of other conditions, like liver or kidney disease and diabetes. Certain medications, like birth control pills, beta-blockers and steroids, can raise triglyceride levels.
