Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that occurs in your body. It is transported by lipoproteins. The two major lipoproteins are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The LDL is considered "bad" cholesterol and the HDL is considered "good" cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease, and high levels of HDL are considered cardio protective.
LDL
LDLs are the major carriers of cholesterol in humans, responsible for supplying cholesterol to the tissues. LDL is increased in persons who consume large amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol. When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries, causing plaques that narrow the arteries.
HDL
HDLs are believed to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is eliminated from the body. High levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack, and low levels of HDL increase the risk of heart disease.
Numbers
In the United States, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. A total cholesterol count below 200 mg/dL is desirable. Ideally the LDL should be between 100 and 129 mg/dL, or lower if you have cardiac risk factors. The HDL should be above 50 mg/dL.
Lifestyle Changes
If your LDL cholesterol is too high and you do not have a lot of cardiac risk factors, your primary care provider will have you make lifestyle changes to treat your high cholesterol. Some of these are quitting smoking if you are a smoker, increasing dietary fiber, increasing exercise, losing weight and decreasing the amount of fat and cholesterol you consume.
Medication
When lifestyle modifications fail to decrease your LDL to the target range and increase your HDL to target range, then medications can bring them into range. The first line medications that are used to treat lower LDL and increase HDL are statins. These do a good job at treating cholesterol, but lifestyle changes are still needed and highly recommended.
