To best manage your health and protect yourself against heart disease and stroke, you need to understand the role of cholesterol. If your cholesterol is too high, you may be at risk for a heart attack or stroke. You can have high cholesterol without having any symptoms. This is why it is important to have your cholesterol tested regularly and understand what the numbers mean.
Identification
The term "serum cholesterol" refers to the total amount of cholesterol present in your blood. Your cholesterol level is recorded in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Cholesterol is produced by the body and is found in the foods you eat. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in the blood, and it is found in most of the body's cells. You need some cholesterol in your body to keep your cells functioning properly. However, if your level of cholesterol gets too high, you may develop heart disease.
Types
Cholesterol is transported through your blood by lipoproteins. There are two main kinds: low density lipoproteins, or LDL, and high density lipoproteins, or HDL. LDL is considered "bad cholesterol" because it encourages cholesterol to build up in the body and along the artery walls, which can lead to atherosclerosis--meaning your arteries become hard and narrow. HDL is considered "good cholesterol" because it encourages your body to excrete the extra cholesterol. In addition to HDLs and LDLs, your body has another kind of fat called triglycerides. Triglyceride levels are also a component of your total or serum cholesterol count.
Significance
Knowing your total serum cholesterol level is important because it can tell you if you are at risk for heart disease. You can determine your level through a simple blood test. The American Heart Association states that a desirable level of serum cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL. If your level is below 200 mg/dL and you have no other risk factors, you are at a low risk of heart disease. A level between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high cholesterol. Once your level reaches 240 mg/dL or higher, you are considered to be at a high risk for heart disease. In addition, it is important to lower your LDL and triglyceride levels and raise your HDL levels.
Testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that serum cholesterol should be tested every five years for everyone over age 20. More frequent testing may be needed if you have additional risk factors. The CDC suggests this is important because serum cholesterol levels can increase 1 to 2 mg per year starting in your teens. Knowing your serum cholesterol levels early on, and watching the levels over the years, can help to predict the risk of developing levels that are too high. With this approach, steps can be taken to avoid disease.
Considerations
To help prevent your serum cholesterol levels from getting too high, you need to control your risk factors. These include your diet, physical activity level, weight, stress levels and alcohol and tobacco use. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, too much saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet raises your levels of LDL, as does being overweight. In contrast, being physically active can raise levels of HDL cholesterol.
