You have a cholesterol profile, and the two major measurements are HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, and LDL, or low-density lipoprotein. HDL is good cholesterol. This is where you want a high number. LDL is often called the "lousy" cholesterol because, even though it has important health functions, too much LDL is bad for you. When your LDL is high, you are said to have high cholesterol, and this is a major cause for concern. Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke increases. The American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and someone succumbs to it every 38 seconds.
Functions of Cholesterol
Cholesterol isn't the inherently evil demon you may think it is. It's a waxy, fat-like substance that your own body produces. Cholesterol is manufactured in your liver, at a rate of about 800 mg to 1,500 mg each day, packaged in transporters called lipoproteins. LDL cholesterol is used for various metabolic functions, including the production and repair of cell membranes. It is also involved in producing hormones. HDL cholesterol's job is to shuttle LDL cholesterol out of your bloodstream and back to your liver.
The Problem with High Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol tends to clump up in the linings of your blood vessels, especially ones that are damaged, so you can get an accumulation of plaque plugging up your arteries. They can narrow these blood vessels and begin to block the flow of blood. You can also increase your LDL levels by eating a diet high in saturated fats. In addition, Harvard's School of Public Health says trans fat is one food that can lower your HDL cholesterol, putting your more at risk of heart disease.
Optimal LDL Levels
An optimal level of LDL cholesterol for you may not be optimal for others. That's because your ideal cholesterol numbers are based on your risk factors for heart disease. These include your age, gender, diabetes status and family history of heart disease. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, through its National Cholesterol Education Program, however, has established some general guidelines to help you know whether your numbers are optimal or troublesome. Consult your doctor to determine your ideal levels. High HDL is when you measure at 60 mg/dL or greater. Remember, that's a good thing. Your HDL is considered low when it's below 40 mg/dL. LDL cholesterol optimal at less than 100 mg/dL, near optimal from 100 to 129 mg/dL, borderline high from 130 to 159 mg/dL, high from 160 to 189 mg/dL and very high when it measures greater than 190 mg/dL.
Treatment
High cholesterol may respond well to changes in your diet and level of physical activity. A heart-healthy diet involves significantly limiting your saturated fats to between 7 percent and 10 percent of your daily caloric intake. In addition, increasing your mono- and polyunsaturated fats can help to increase your HDL levels and lower your LDL. Moreover, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight and controlling other health conditions can help with your cholesterol. If these efforts don't sufficiently bring your cholesterol down, your doctor may prescribe medications to help.
References
- American Heart Association: Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol
- Hepatitis A-Z; The Cholesterol Controversy; Mark Johnson
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; High Blood Cholesterol: Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III); May 2001
- Harvard School of Public Health: Fats and Cholesterol: Out with the Bad, In with the Good
- American Heart Association: What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean
