Your body uses cholesterol to make bile, hormones and cell membranes. The cholesterol in your body is either manufactured by your liver or comes from your diet. Poor cholesterol levels can occur even if your total cholesterol levels are low because your mix of LDL and HDL cholesterol is unhealthy; this can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular problems and may require lifestyle changes or the use of medications.
Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis
Your cholesterol levels are important because they factor into your risk of developing a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is caused by cholesterol buildup on the walls of your arteries. When cholesterol gets deposited on your arterial walls, it forms a substance known as plaque, which makes these walls thicker and stiff. This increases your blood pressure. Atherosclerosis can also affect the small arteries that supply blood to your brain and heart, increasing the risk that you will develop a blockage
Forms of Cholesterol
High levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL-cholesterol, on the other hand, lowers your risk of developing atherosclerosis because it transports cholesterol away from other tissues back to your liver.
Measurements
Your LDL, HDL and total cholesterol levels can be measured using a blood test known as a lipid panel or lipoprotein profile. If your total cholesterol levels are less than 200 mg per dL of blood, you have normal total cholesterol. Normal HDL levels are between 40 and 49 mg per dL for men and 50 to 59 mg per dL for women. Numbers higher than this help protect you against heart disease and levels lower than that increase your risk of developing cardiovascular problems. If your LDL levels are between 130 and 159, you have borderline high cholesterol. Levels above 160 and 200 are considered high and very high, respectively.
Treatment
If you have high levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood with normal HDL and total cholesterol values, you may have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems. Many medications, including fibrates, statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors, can help your lower your LDL levels. Eating less saturated fat and cholesterol and getting more exercise can also lower your LDL levels. You can also decrease the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood by losing weight if you are overweight or obese.
