Manage your cholesterol levels to control your risk for suffering heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 102 million adults in the United States had high cholesterol in 2010. More than 35 million of these Americans had levels high enough to have a serious chance of developing cardiovascular disease. Maintaining the recommended ratio of HDL to LDL reduces your likelihood of suffering cholesterol-related diseases, including heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer's.
HDL and LDL
HDL and LDL maintain a healthy level of cholesterol in your body. Cholesterol is a lipid, which means it is not soluble in the watery plasma of blood. Your body overcomes this by packaging cholesterol onto lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, transports cholesterol from your gut to the rest of your body. LDL is most closely associated with heart disease because it introduces more cholesterol into the bloodstream. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, ferries excess cholesterol back to your liver where it is processed and eliminated from your body. High levels of HDL are associated with decreased risk for heart disease because it reduces excess cholesterol in your bloodstream and reduces the damage cholesterol inflicts on your cardiovascular system.
Levels
A blood test is the only way to measure your HDL and LDL. Low levels of LDL are healthier than high levels. Your LDL should be 100 mg/dL or lower. High levels of HDL are healthier than low levels. An HDL of 60 mg/dL indicates a low risk of heart disease. A man with an HDL of 40 mg/dL or lower has a high chance of developing cardiovascular problems, as is a woman whose HDL is 50 mg/dL or less.
Ratio
Compare HDL and LDL to determine your ratio. For example, a man with an HDL of 50 and an LDL of 150 has a 1:3 HDL to LDL ratio. A woman with an HDL of 60 and an LDL of 120 has a much healthier HDL to LDL ratio of 1:2. A person with an HDL of 40 and LDL of 160 has a very unhealthy HDL to LDL ratio of 1:4. A ratio greater than 1 to 3 indicates above average risk, according to the Iowa State University Extension.
Risks
It is important to maintain a healthy ratio of LDL and HDL. High levels of LDL introduce excessive amounts of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Low levels of HDL may become overwhelmed and unable to keep cholesterol levels under control. Cholesterol and other fatty substances accumulate inside blood vessels, injuring arterial walls and preventing blood from flowing efficiently to vital organs, like your heart, brain or kidneys. You may experience chest pains or even a heart attack if the muscles of your heart do not receive the oxygen-rich blood they need to pump properly.
Treatment
Improve your diet to lower LDL and increase HDL. Reduce your intake of saturated fat so that it accounts for no more than 7 percent of your total caloric intake. Saturated fat raises LDL more than anything else in your diet, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. Eat fatty fish like salmon and mackerel twice a week. These fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial to HDL. Stop smoking and lose weight to improve your HDL to LDL ratio even more. Your doctor may prescribe medicine like niacin, statins or fibrates if diet, exercise and lifestyle changes do not improve your HDL to LDL ratio.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; September is National Cholesterol Education Month; August 26, 2010
