To prevent and manage heart disease, it's necessary to keep cholesterol levels low. Your body needs some cholesterol to function properly, however, and some types of cholesterol actually provide a protective effect against heart disease. This includes high-density lipoproteins, the good kind of cholesterol.
Types of Cholesterol
Cholesterol is both produced by the body and found in foods. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood, so it must be transported by special carriers. The two main carriers your body uses are low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. To prevent heart disease, the goal is to lower LDL levels -- the bad kind of cholesterol -- and raise HDL levels -- the good kind.
Considerations
LDL is considered the bad kind because it carries cholesterol to be used or stored in the body. As levels of cholesterol rise, it begins to accumulate along the blood vessel walls, making them hard and narrow. This narrowing of the blood vessels can lead to high blood pressure and may reduce blood flow to the organs, heart and brain. If blood flow to the heart is too limited, a heart attack can occur, and if blood flow to the brain is too restricted a stroke can occur. Given this, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends keeping your LDL levels below 100 if there is a risk for heart disease. Along with lowering LDL levels, the risk for disease can also be decreased by raising HDL levels.
Benefits
High-density lipoproteins are considered the good kind because they absorb cholesterol from the bloodstream and blood vessel walls and then transport it to the liver so it can be excreted. HDL can stop cholesterol from building up in the body. Having an HDL level of 60 or above protects against heart disease, while a level of 40 or below is associated with an increased risk of disease. Total cholesterol levels should be kept under 200, but when considering total cholesterol numbers, it is important to know the levels of LDL and HDL. A high total cholesterol level may not be as high of a risk factor, if HDL is high and LDL is low. However, a high total cholesterol level with a high LDL level and a low HDL is more of a concern. Your physician can order a simple blood test to determine your cholesterol levels and then make suggestions on any treatments that are needed.
Solution
The same lifestyle changes that are used to manage heart disease can also lower LDL levels and raise HDL levels. This includes achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, exercising regularly and eating a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and high in fiber. If lifestyle changes are not enough, various medications can help to lower LDL levels and raise HDL levels.
