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About Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is an important substance that is crucial to many biochemical processes in your body,including synthesis of several hormones, homeostasis and membrane transport. In principle, your liver can produce all the cholesterol your body needs.
Your body gets additional cholesterol when you eat foods containing cholesterol such as eggs and meat. Having too much cholesterol in your blood has negative impacts on your well-being. More specifically, high level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is associated with elevated risk of heart disease.

  1. Type

    • Cholesterol is transported in blood stream by lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are complex spherical particles which carry fat and cholesterol inside. There is a variety of lipoproteins in the blood. Most of us have heard of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Other lipoproteins include chylomicrons, very low- density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL).

    Significance

    • High concentrations of LDL and lower concentrations of HDL are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
      Cholesterol can build up in your arteries and make them more narrow and harden. Eventually, too much cholesterol might completely block an artery. A heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart muscles is blocked. A stroke occurs when blood supply to your brain is blocked.

    Considerations

    • Cholesterol level is quantified in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. The risk of cardiovascular diseases is classified according to the level of total cholesterol as follows:
      + Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
      + Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
      + High risk: more than 240 mg/dL
      Similarly, the level of LDL cholesterol can be categorized as follows:
      + Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL
      + Near optimall:100-129 mg/dL
      + Borderline high risk130-159 mg/dL
      + High risk:160-189 mg/dL
      + Very high risk: more than 190 mg/dL

    Risk Factors

    • The balance between HDL and LDL is largely determined by genetic factors. However, the levels of cholesterol can be changed by lifestyle modification through diet and exercise and medications.
      If you're overweight, weight loss will reduce your cholesterol level. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Eat more fruits, whole grains, vegetables and fish to promote heart health.
      Most people do not know that they have high cholesterol as there may be no symptoms. High cholesterol can be detected by a simple test. If you are 20 years old or older, you should check your cholesterol level every five years.

    Identification

    • You can assess your risk of heart disease at the website of the American Heart Association (AHA), http://www.americanheart.org. The Heart Attack/Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessment tool on the AHA website will allow you to calculate your risk of having a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or dying from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the next decade based on various risk factors, such as smoking, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol level, diabetes, physical inactivity and family history. The tool also gives you a list of recommendations to lower your risk.

      Use the AHA Risk Assessment tool as an educational tool only. The tool is not a substitution for formal diagnosis. Consult your doctor about your risk of heart diseases.

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