Causes of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance essential to good health. It plays an important role in making bile, cell membranes and several hormones. But too much cholesterol becomes a major risk factor for the nation's leading cause of death, heart disease. There are a variety of causes and risk factors of high cholesterol. Some causes of high blood cholesterol can be controlled, while other causes are beyond our control.

Controllable Causes of High Cholesterol

• Eat a variety of foods from all the major food groups to help lower cholesterol.

  What you eat affects your cholesterol levels. Avoid too much fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and eat more fruits and vegetables. Read food labels to find the amount of fat and cholesterol in foods. Change your lifestyle to include a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

  Being overweight not only decreases HDL (good) cholesterol levels, but it also increases your chances of developing heart disease. Maintain ideal body weight at an appropriate level for your height, frame and age. Lack of physical activity decreases HDL (good) cholesterol and increases LDL (bad) cholesterol. A gradual change in lifestyle that includes better eating habits and regular exercise will increase your HDL cholesterol level and help maintain an ideal body weight.

Uncontrollable Causes of High Cholesterol

• Cholesterol levels rise in both men and women as they get older.

  Age affects cholesterol. LDL cholesterol levels rise in women 55 years old or older and in men 45 years old or older. Gender also affects cholesterol. The cholesterol levels between men and women are different. Women have lower LDL cholesterol levels than men. However, after menopause, women have higher LDL cholesterol levels than men. Heredity can play a major role in cholesterol levels. Inherited genes influence how the body metabolizes LDL cholesterol. This genetic condition is called familial hypercholesterolemia.

Major Risk Factors That Cause High Cholesterol

• Risk factors such as smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol causes high cholesterol.

  Smoking cigarettes lowers good cholesterol levels. Certain medications can lower good cholesterol levels. Certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases also affect cholesterol levels. Family history can also play a big role. History of certain diseases in close family members can affect cholesterol levels. Age is a big risk factor for high cholesterol since cholesterol levels rise as we get older. Stress can raise blood cholesterol levels. Alcohol consumed in moderation (one to two drinks) can increase good cholesterol levels. However, excessive alcohol use can cause major health risks.

Cholesterol Levels

• Lipoprotein profile measures your cholesterol levels.

  When your cholesterol levels are tested, you will see four numbers: total cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides. A desirable total cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL.; 240 mg/dL and above is considered to be high. LDL is considered the "bad" form of cholesterol, as it causes cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. An optimal LDL level would be less than 100 mg/dL. A reading of 190 mg/dL and above is very high. HDL is the "good" cholesterol, as helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries. A desirable HDL level would be 40 to 59 mg/dL. An HDL level of less than 40 mg/dL is a major risk factor for heart disease. Triglycerides are another form of fat in your blood, and this number is also measured as part of a cholesterol screening. A level of 200 mg/dL or more is considered high.

  Everyone age 20 and older should have their blood cholesterol levels checked at least once every five years. Your doctor will determine how often you should be tested and can provide you with the appropriate treatment as needed.