Heart disease is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States for both men and women. What leads to heart disease are certain risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Certain cholesterol levels are the same for both men and women while others have different recommended levels for women only.
About Cholesterol
Cholesterol is made by the liver and is a soft, waxy substance found in the lipids in the bloodstream. Kid's Health states the liver makes approximately 1,000 mg of cholesterol a day for the needs and functions of the body. The rest of the cholesterol found in the bloodstream comes from your diet. Excess cholesterol will build up in the bloodstream and start to form plaque.
Functions
Cholesterol's main job is to help build hormones in the body. Additionally, cholesterol helps to make vitamin D as well as all cell walls. The cholesterol is broken up into different forms of lipids and cannot travel through the blood without being attached to a protein. There are high-density and low-density lipoproteins, or HDL and LDL respectively.
Bad Fat Levels
LDL cholesterol is also called bad fat because excess LDL is what builds up in the blood stream and can lead to hardening of the arteries and plaquing. In both men and women the levels should be 100 mg/dL or less. In middle-aged women, cholesterol levels tend to be lower than men, but after menopause, the LDL levels in particular start to rise. It is not until LDL levels rise to at least 160 mg/dL that they are considered high, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Good Fat Levels
HDL is also called the good fat of the body. High levels of HDL in the body help to clear the excess LDL lipids and is protective for the heart. In men, the levels need to be between 40 to 50 mg/dL, but in women, the HDL levels should be between 50 to 60 mg/dL. In women, levels less than 50mg/dL presents a higher risk factor for heart disease, according to the American Heart Society. Anything higher than 60 mg/dL is considered heart protective.
Other Levels
Total cholesterol should always be less than 200 mg/dL. Other fats such as triglycerides, which is another common fat in the body should also be less than 150 mg/dL. The best way to test for all of the cholesterol levels is by a blood test with a period of fasting of at least 9 hours before the test.
