There's good reason to watch your serum cholesterol levels. When high levels of this waxy, fat-like substance accumulate in your blood stream, it can gather on the inner surfaces of your blood vessels, obstructing the passage of blood and causing your arterial walls to harden. This is plaque, and the hardening of your arteries that results from it is called atherosclerosis. With heart disease being one of the main causes of death in the United States, high cholesterol can truly be a killer.
Sources of Serum Cholesterol
The good news is that you have the power to take your heart's health into your own hands by lowering your serum cholesterol levels. The cholesterol in your blood comes from two sources: your liver and the food you eat. The American Heart Association explains that your liver produces about 1,000 mg of cholesterol per day. Some cholesterol is necessary to form cell membranes and synthesize hormones. But, your dietary intake of certain foods can put your total cholesterol level over the top. American men typically eat 337 mg of cholesterol daily, while women consume around 217 mg. This comes primarily from animal food sources such as meat, fish and dairy products.
Good and Bad Cholesterol
When you hear about high cholesterol levels, it's typically in reference to a high level of LDL, the "bad" cholesterol found in red meat. This is the cholesterol that clogs arteries and increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Another form of cholesterol is HDL. This type helps to decrease your risk of heart disease by transporting cholesterol out of your bloodstream to your liver, where it can be excreted, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
How to Lower Serum Cholesterol
In order to lower your serum cholesterol levels, first consult your doctor for advice. If your diet is high in LDL rich foods, you will be given suggestions for adapting to a healthy style of eating. If you are physically inactive, an exercise regimen may be adopted that will help to decrease your LDL levels and increase HDL. If you're overweight, losing the excess baggage can help by lowering your LDL and triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are fats that circulate in your blood. High triglyceride levels are associated with heart disease, diabetes and obesity. If you smoke, quit. Tobacco smoke decreases your level of healthy HDL cholesterol and increases your risk of blood clots and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.
Cholesterol Levels
According to Penn State's Hershey Medical Center, the optimal level of LDL cholesterol is below 100 mg/dl, though high-risk patients may fare well with even lower levels of 70 mg/dl. Anything above 160 mg/dl is considered high serum LDL.
In terms of total cholesterol, a level lower than 200mg/dl is considered healthy. If your levels lie between 200 and 239 mg/dl, you are on the borderline, and a total serum cholesterol of more than 240 mg/dL is considered high.
