Cholesterol is a waxy substance that comes from foods made with animal proteins and is also synthesized by the liver. Your body uses cholesterol to make cell membranes, hormones and bile, but cholesterol can also play a role in cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol comes in different forms and not all of them are bad.
Why Cholesterol Matters
Cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease that you can control, the American Heart Association explains. When you have high amounts of cholesterol in your blood, some of the cholesterol can get deposited in the walls of your arteries. These deposits are known as atherosclerotic plaques and they increase blood pressure by narrowing the arteries and making them stiffer and less flexible. Atherosclerosis can occur in the small arteries that supply the heart, cutting off blood flow and leading to coronary artery disease. These plaques can also break off and cause clots in smaller blood vessels.
Lipoproteins
Although as a general rule high cholesterol is associated with atherosclerosis, not all forms of cholesterol increase your risk. The liver packages cholesterol along with proteins and other lipids to form lipoproteins, the University of Washington states. Two of the most important lipoproteins are called low- and high-density lipoproteins or LDL and HDL. High levels of LDL can increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis. Elevated levels of HDL, on the other hand, reduce your risk of atherosclerosis.
Lipid Panel
Your different cholesterol levels are usually measured as part of a blood test known as a lipid panel, which measures different types of triglycerides in units of mg per dL of blood. Desirable total cholesterol levels are less than 200; borderline high is between 200 and 239, and 240 and up is considered high, LabTestsOnline explains. For LDL cholesterol, optimal levels are below 100; near optimal is between 100 and 129; 130 to 159 is borderline high and 160 to 189 is classified as high. Anything above that is very high. Ideal HDL levels are above 60; average levels are between 40 and 49 for men and 50 and 59 for women. Results below that are considered low.
Treatments
If you have high total cholesterol, high LDL or low HDL levels, there are a number of steps you may take to lower your risk of heart disease. Reducing your saturated fat and cholesterol intake will be beneficial, as will losing weight and getting more exercise. Foods high in soluble fiber, such as oat bran, can also improve your lipid profile. Many medications are available that can improve your cholesterol levels in several ways, though these drugs all have side effects so you should talk to your doctor to find out which is best for you.
