Cholesterol is a naturally occurring, fat-like substance in the blood that is necessary for bodily function, states Medline Plus. Too much cholesterol, however, can lead to health risks. FamilyDoctor.org explains that your body gets cholesterol from your liver as well as the foods that you eat. Cholesterol levels are often measured to assess health risks for heart disease and stroke; test results often are in the form of cholesterol levels and your LDL/HDL ratio.
LDL and HDL Cholesterols
There are two types of cholesterol in your blood. The "good" kind is high-density lipoprotein, or HDL for short, and the "bad" kind is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL for short. HDL removes cholesterol from your bloodstream, while LDL delivers cholesterol to your blood cells. When cells receive too much cholesterol, they begin to accumulate, leading to the formation of arterial plaque, explains Diabetes Forecast.
High Levels of Cholesterol
Once you begin to accumulate arterial plaque, explains FamilyDoctor.org, your arteries begin to narrow. If this continues, your artery can become completely blocked. FamilyDoctor.org states that hardened plaque can split open, causing blood clot formation in your arteries. Once this occurs in an artery that supplies blood to heart muscles, you become at risk of a heart attack. On the other hand, an artery that supplies blood to the brain can become blocked, and this can cause a stroke.
Testing Cholesterol Levels
Your doctor might order a cholesterol test to measure your cholesterol levels; Medline Plus explains that there are no symptoms of high blood cholesterol, but it can be inherited. People who are overweight or eat a lot of fatty foods often have high cholesterol as well. This test, explains MayoClinic.com, will help your doctor determine your risk of atherosclerosis, or arterial plaque buildup.
Regular screening is an important tool to lowering your risk for heart disease. This type of test is a blood test -- a needle is inserted into the arm and blood is drawn. The process takes only a couple of minutes. Desired total cholesterol results are below 200 mg of cholesterol per dl. Optimal LDL cholesterol is below 100 mg/dl, and optimal HDL is 60 mg/dl and above, states MayoClinic.com.
Reducing Cholesterol Levels
Once your doctor has returned your cholesterol test results, he might direct you to lower your cholesterol levels. MayoClinic.com recommends that you lose weight in order to lower your cholesterol levels; even 5 to 10 lbs. can help improve your cholesterol ratio. Choose healthier fats and avoid saturated fats, as these increase your LDL cholesterol and raise your total cholesterol. You also should avoid trans fats. These fats can be found in fried foods and many commercially produced baked goods. Choose whole grains and limit the cholesterol consumed from food sources.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that you exercise to reduce cholesterol levels because moderate exercise can raise your HDL cholesterol levels. Drinking alcohol in moderation and quitting smoking will also lead to increased HDL levels in the blood.
