Routine physicals usually include a blood test to check cholesterol levels and other factors. If you have been told that you have high cholesterol, you may wonder what the numbers mean. Keep cholesterol levels in a healthy range to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance natural to your body, important to proper cell function; you also consume cholesterol when you eat animal products. Cholesterol is necessary but only in a limited amount. Too much cholesterol increases the risk of blood vessel blockage from sticky plaques circulating in the bloodstream. If blood flow to the heart is abnormal, a heart attack can occur. The chance of a clot in the brain increases the possibility of stroke.
Healthy Levels
Blood tests measure cholesterol numbers in several ways. Total cholesterol gauges the total amount of all types of cholesterol in the body. A levels below 200 mg/dL is ideal; borderline cholesterol ranges from 201 to 239 mg/dL, and high cholesterol is 240 mg/dL and higher. LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, optimally should measure below 100 mg/dL--but 100 to 129 mg/dL is considered near optimal, too. An LDL number above 130 is considered borderline to high; a level above 190 mg/dL is considered very high. You want your HDL or "good" cholesterol to have a higher reading. A higher HDL level correlates to reduced risk of heart disease. Ideal HDL is 60 mg/dL and above. A level less than 50 mg/dL for a woman or less than 40 mg/dL for a man is considered low and is a major risk factor for heart disease. Your triglyceride level, related to the cholesterol level, should be less than 150 mg/dL; a level above 150 is considered borderline to high.
Diet Modification
The National Institutes of Health recommends a Therapeutic Lifestyle Change, or TLC, approach to cholesterol management. Recommendations include eating more vegetables, grains and fruits and less animal fat, trans fat, saturated fat and high-cholesterol foods. Soluble fiber, found in foods such as peas, lentils and citrus fruits, helps to lower cholesterol. Egg yolks, shrimp, animal liver, kidneys and brain parts are foods high in cholesterol and should be reduced.
Exercise and Cholesterol
There is a strong correlation between lack of activity and heart disease. Physical activity is recommended for better health and for anyone diagnosed with high cholesterol. Exercise helps you lose weight and maintain the loss, which also reduces the risk of heart disease risk; being overweight increases the chances of high levels of LDL and triglycerides and low levels of HDL. Exercise every day, with a program cleared by your doctor.
