Cholesterol is a fat-like substance naturally occurring within every cell of the body. Cholesterol has been feared due to the link between it and heart disease, but a certain amount of cholesterol is needed to keep the body properly functioning. Cholesterol is found in the membrane of each cell. It's required to make vitamin D and certain hormones. Seventy-five percent of all cholesterol is naturally present and manufactured by the liver. The rest of the cholesterol measured in the blood comes from consuming animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, butter, cheese and milk products. There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, and low-density lipoprotein, LDL. An imbalance of these levels can be a risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke, says MedlinePlus and the American Heart Association.
Total Cholesterol
For adults older than 20, the American Heart Association recommends a lipoprotein profile be performed every five years. The fasting blood test report shows all cholesterol readings measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL. A level of 200mg/dL to 230mg/dL is considered borderline high, with 240mg/dL and above showing high total blood cholesterol and a twofold risk of coronary heart disease. A total cholesterol reading of less than 200mg/dL is the desirable level; it reports a low risk of coronary heart disease. The guidelines for total cholesterol levels are the same for men and women.
HDL -- The Good Cholesterol
When measuring HDL levels, higher numbers are better. HDL is considered the good cholesterol because it protects against heart disease by keeping the LDL, or bad, cholesterol from sticking to the artery walls. Blood levels of 60mg/dL and above for HDL is considered protective against heart disease. HDL levels of less than 40mg/dL for men and less than 50mg/dL for women is considered a major risk factor for heart disease. The average male has an HDL reading of 40mg/dL to 50mg/dL. Smoking, being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle can cause HDL levels to be too low, the American Heart Association says.
Male and Female Differential
It's a matter of hormones when it comes to the different HDL ranges and levels between men and women. Men have a different set of hormones than women, which has an effect on their HDL blood level readings. Men have more progesterone, anabolic steroids -- naturally present -- and men also have more testosterone. All of these male hormones lower HDL cholesterol levels. The female sex hormone estrogen tends to raise HDL cholesterol, the American Heart Association says.
What To Do
Because there are no physical signs or symptoms of high cholesterol, having regular blood tests to check levels is recommended -- especially if you are overweight, eat fatty foods or have a family history of high cholesterol. Out-of-balance cholesterol levels lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, causing a narrowing of the walls. This condition, called atherosclerosis, increases the risk of heart disease and other circulatory problems. The plaque-filled, narrowed arteries make it difficult for blood to flow through the body and to the heart. Getting regular physical exercise, not smoking, balancing blood pressure and a nutritionally balanced diet with reduced animal products, saturated fats and trans fats has been shown to have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels, according to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
References
- American Heart Association: What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean
- American Heart Association: About Cholesterol
- Heart & Stroke Foundation: What Is Blood Cholesterol?
- MedlinePlus: Cholesterol
- American Heart Association: What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean
- American Association for Clinical Chemistry : Cholesterol
