Cholesterol 101

There is lot of confusion when it comes to cholesterol. There are good parts and bad parts, so from there it gets a little fuzzy for people. Let me break it down.

One too many cheeseburgers.

LDL cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein is called the "bad" cholesterol because it puts you at risk for heart disease. (I always think "L" for "lousy.") This type of cholesterol can build up inside your arteries, mixing with other substances to form a hard lining.......plaque. Plaque can build up and make arteries narrow, meaning that less blood can flow through to your heart, putting you at increased risk for heart attacks.
HDL cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein has the opposite effect of LDL cholesterol. (I always think "H" for "healthy.") This cholesterol helps keep arteries clear. Instead of sticking to the artery walls, HDL cholesterol moves through the bloodstream to the liver, where it can be broken down and eliminated from the body.

When you have a lipoprotein profile done, you will get results for Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and Triglycerides (a form of fat in the blood).

So what do your numbers mean?

Total Cholesterol

• Normal                  <200 mg/dL
• Borderline High       200-239 mg/dL
• High Risk                >240 mg/dL

HDL

• Low - Women        <50 mg/dL
• Low - Men             <40 mg/dL
• Normal - Women   50-60 mg/dL
• Normal - Men        40-50 mg/dL
• Good                      >60 mg/dL

LDL

• Optimal                   <100 mg/dL
• Near Optimal          100-129 mg/dL
• Borderline High       130-159 mg/dL
• High                        160-189 mg/dL
• Very High                >190 mg/dL

Triglycerides

• Normal                   <150 mg/dL
• Borderline High       150-199 mg/dL
• High                        200-499 mg/dL
• Very High               >500 mg/dL

How to Improve your Levels:
A poor profile could be due to being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, smoking, or excess alcohol consumption - all lifestyle improvements that can be made. If you are concerned about your levels, then tell your healthcare provider that you would like to have your cholesterol checked - then you can form an action plan from there!!!

Source: American Heart Association