High cholesterol raises the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. However, the body needs some cholesterol to survive and function properly. Some types of cholesterol actually provide a protective effect against heart disease. Part of controlling cholesterol levels means understanding what a healthy level is and how to discern between the different types of cholesterol.
Identification
Cholesterol is a waxy substance the body produces and many foods contain. Cholesterol plays a role in protecting nerves, making cell tissues and producing certain hormones. The body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol can not dissolve in the blood so it must be carried through the body by particles called lipoproteins. There are two main types of lipoproteins -- low density, or LDL, and high density, or HDL. LDL is the back sheep in the cholesterol family: it stores cholesterol in the body. The HDL type, the good kind, removes cholesterol through excretion. In addition to LDL and HDL, triglycerides, a type of fat that travels in the blood also plays a role in total cholesterol levels.
Warnings
High levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol contribute to plaque buildup along the blood vessels walls. This causes a condition called coronary artery disease in which the blood vessels become hard and narrow. Coronary artery disease reduces the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches the heart, brain and organs. If the heart does not get enough blood and oxygen a heart attack can occur. If the brain becomes deprived of blood and oxygen, a stroke may ensue. To help prevent serious illness, cholesterol levels need to be kept in check. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a total cholesterol level of 240 or more is considered high and puts you at greater risk for heart disease.
Considerations
Along with knowing what the total cholesterol level is, it is important to also know what LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels are as well. Once LDL levels reach 160 to 189 mg/dL it is considered high and if the number climbs to 190 mg/dL or more, LDL levels are considered dangerously high. Once triglyceride levels reach 200 mg/dL or more they rate high as well. In contrast, since HDL helps to protect against heart disease the higher the level the better.
Risk Factors
When it comes to assessing the risk of disease, knowing total cholesterol -- LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels -- is still not enough. This information must be combined with other risk factors that might be present. A patient who has a family history of high cholesterol or an underlying medical condition that contributes to high cholesterol is at a higher risk. Obesity, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or consuming a diet high in fat and cholesterol raises the risk of disease. Lowering cholesterol levels needs to be combined with healthy lifestyle behaviors to fully reduce the risk of disease.
