Your body needs cholesterol to digest food, manufacture hormones and absorb vitamin D. Cholesterol is found in every cell in your body. The majority of cholesterol in your blood is produced by your body, and the rest comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that doesn't mix well with your blood -- like oil and water. To move through your bloodstream, cholesterol bonds with protein, to form lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins and you need both types.
Total Cholesterol Numbers
Your cholesterol test will tell you your high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" cholesterol; your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the "bad" cholesterol; and your triglyceride levels. Ideally, your total cholesterol level, the combination of your HDL and LDL numbers, should be below 200 mg/dL, and levels above 240 mg/dL are considered high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six Americans has high cholesterol. Although there are no physical symptoms of high cholesterol, high cholesterol levels can lead to heart attack and stroke. As LDL cholesterol accumulates in your bloodstream, it can harden into plaque, narrowing your arteries and restricting blood flow to vital organs.
Low-Density Lipoprotein
LDL cholesterol is the type that raises your risk of heart attack and stroke by clinging to the walls of your arteries. Healthy LDL levels are between 100 and 129 mg/dL. If you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes or other risk factors for coronary artery disease, your doctor may recommend that you aim for LDL levels between 70 and 100 mg/dL. Borderline high levels are between 130 and 159 mg/dL, 160 to 189 is high, and anything over 190 mg/dL is considered very high.
High-Density Lipoprotein
HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol through your bloodstream to your liver for elimination. High-density lipoproteins are smaller than low-density lipoproteins and don't clog your blood vessels. The higher your HDL levels, the lower your risk of heart disease. Any number above 60 mg/dL is considered ideal. It's OK if your level is between 50 and 59 mg/dL and poor if your level is below 50 mg/dL. Exercise can increase your HDL cholesterol.
Triglycerides
Calories consumed that are not used immediately for energy are converted into a type of fat called triglycerides. Triglycerides are stored in fat cells for later use. Hormones can release triglycerides for energy in between meals. However, if you regularly eat more calories than you use, you won't use stored triglycerides. Ideally, your triglyceride levels will be below 150 mg/dL. If your level is between 150 and 199 mg/dL, you're borderline high, and 200 to 499 is high. If your triglycerides are above 500, that's very high. High triglyceride levels contribute to the hardening of your arteries and can be a symptom of metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism or kidney disease.
Lowering Your Cholesterol Level
MayoClinic.com suggests maintaining a healthy body weight, quitting smoking, exercising 30 minutes daily, eating a high-fiber diet, and consuming less dietary fat and cholesterol to help lower your LDL and triglyceride levels. If lifestyle changes aren't enough to lower your lipid profile, your doctor may recommend cholesterol-lowering medication.
References
- National Heart Lung & Blood Institute: High BloodCholesterol
- MedlinePlus: Cholesterol Test
- MayoClinic.com: High Cholesterol -- What Numbers Should You Aim For?
- Better Health Channel: Cholesterol
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About High Blood Cholesterol
- MayoClinic.com: Triglycerides -- Why Do They Matter?
