Cholesterol
in the Blood
Cholesterol
is a waxy substance that can be found in all parts
of your body. It aids in the production of cell
membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The cholesterol
in your blood comes from two sources: the foods
you eat and your liver. However, your liver makes
all of the cholesterol your body needs.
Cholesterol
and other fats are transported in your blood stream
in the form of spherical particles called lipoproteins.
The two most commonly known lipoproteins are low-density
lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins
(HDL).
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What is LDL (low-density
lipoprotein) cholesterol? |
What is HDL (high-density
lipoprotein) cholesterol? |
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This type of
cholesterol is commonly called the "
bad " cholesterol, and is a type
of fat in the blood that contains the
most cholesterol. It can contribute to
the formation of plaque buildup in the
arteries, known as atherosclerosis.
You want your
LDL to be low. To help lower it:
- avoid foods
high in saturated fat, dietary cholesterol,
and excess calories
- exercise
- maintain a
healthy weight
- stop smoking
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This type of
cholesterol is known as the " good
" cholesterol, and is a type of fat
in the blood that helps to remove cholesterol
from the blood, preventing the fatty buildup
and formation of plaque.
You want your
HDL to be as high as possible. Some people
can raise HDL by:
- exercising
for at least 20 minutes three times
a week
- kicking the
cigarette habit
- avoiding saturated
fat intake
- decreasing
body weight
For others, medicine
may be needed. Because raising HDL is
complicated, you should work with your
physician on a therapeutic plan. |
A cholesterol
screening is an overall look at, or profile of,
the fats in your blood. Screenings help identify
people at risk of heart disease. It is important
to have what is called a full lipid profile to
show the actual levels of each type of fat in
your blood: LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and others.
Consult your physician regarding the timeliness
of this test.
High
blood cholesterol is a significant risk factor
in heart disease. Lowering blood cholesterol through
increased physical activity, weight loss, smoking
cessation, and proper diet lowers that risk. However,
blood cholesterol is very specific to each individual
and, for that reason, a full lipid profile is
an important part of your medical history and
important information for your physician to have.
In general, healthy levels are as follows:
- LDL - less than 130
milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- HDL - greater than
40 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl)
- A total cholesterol
level below 200 mg/dL is considered desirable
In some
individuals who already have coronary artery disease
(CAD) and/or who have an increased number of risk
factors for coronary heart disease, a physician
may determine that the LDL cholesterol level should
be kept lower than 130. Recent studies have shown
that those who are at highest risk for a heart
attack should lower their LDL cholesterol level
to less than 100, and that an LDL cholesterol
level of 70 or less may be optimal for those individuals
at the very highest level of risk. Always consult
your physician for a diagnosis.
Elevated
cholesterol is a risk for many Americans. Consider
these statistics:
- About 107 million American
adults have total blood cholesterol levels of
200mg/dL and higher, and of those about 38
million American adults have level of 240 or
above.
- Elevated cholesterol
levels early in life may play a role in the
development of adult atherosclerosis.
- According to the American
Heart Association, high blood cholesterol that
runs in families will affect the future of an
unknown (but probably large) number of children.
Triglycerides
are another class of fat found in the bloodstream.
The bulk of your body's fat tissue is in the
form of triglycerides.
The
link between triglycerides and heart disease is
under clinical investigation. However, many people
with high triglycerides also have other risk factors
such as high LDL levels or low HDL levels.
Elevated
triglyceride levels may be caused by medical conditions
such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease,
or liver disease. Dietary causes of elevated triglyceride
levels may include obesity and high intakes of
fat, alcohol, and concentrated sweets. A healthy
triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL.
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Resources of Cardiovascular Disease
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