Cholesterol, a type of fat necessary for normal body function, travels through the blood vessels bound to specialized proteins known as lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, keeps the cholesterol in the blood, while high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, removes excess cholesterol from the body. A high LDL level is a major risk factor for heart disease -- the number one cause of death in the United States. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults test their blood cholesterol levels at least every five years beginning at age 20. To assess your risk for heart disease you must understand the ranges for LDL cholesterol.
Risk Factors
The acceptable healthy range for LDL cholesterol depends on how other heart-disease risk factors affect you. A previous heart attack or stroke, a blockage in the carotid artery, or blockage of the arteries in the arms or legs place you at high risk for heart disease. Anyone with diabetes and high LDL cholesterol levels is also considered at high risk for heart disease. If you have two or more of the following risk factors, you are at intermediate risk for heart disease: high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease. If you have zero or one risk factor, you are at low risk for heart disease.
Healthy Range
If you are have a low risk for heart disease, you should maintain an LDL cholesterol level under 160 mg/dL. If you are at intermediate risk, you need to keep your LDL cholesterol level under 130 mg/dL, while if you have a high risk for heart disease, should maintain your LDL cholesterol under 100 mg/dL. MayoClinic.com recommends that people at very high risk, which is defined as those who already suffer from heart disease, keep their LDL cholesterol at less than 70 mg/dL.
High Range
High LDL cholesterol levels allow your cholesterol to build up along the walls of blood vessels, forming a substance known as plaque. The formation of plaque makes the artery walls thick and hard, and it interferes with the flow of blood. Doctors classify anyone with an LDL cholesterol level in the range of 160 to 189 mg/dL as having high blood cholesterol. LDL cholesterol greater than 189 mg/dL falls into the very high range, which doctors will most likely treat with medications.
Tips to Lower LDL
Many factors contribute to high LDL cholesterol levels. Consuming food with high levels of dietary cholesterol or saturated fat increases LDL cholesterol levels. Smoking and excessive intake of alcohol can also increase LDL cholesterol. Being overweight and not engaging in physical activity also causes LDL cholesterol levels to increase. Making lifestyle changes can help lower your LDL cholesterol into the healthy range. Quit smoking, lose weight, increase your physical activity level and increase your intake of dietary fiber. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, changing your diet alone can reduce your LDL cholesterol levels by four to 13 percent. Just think how much it can improve if you make multiple lifestyle changes.
References
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program; May 2001
- MayoClinic.com; Cholesterol Levels: What Numbers Should You Aim For?; June 2010
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide; LDL Cholesterol: Low, Lower and Lower Still; updated Nov. 2004
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: How Is High Blood Cholesterol Diagnosed?
- Lab Tests Online; LDL Cholesterol; modified March 2011
