Your blood cholesterol level is more than just a number. It is something that should be taken very seriously. After all, according the the World Health Organization, almost 20% of all strokes and over 50% of all heart attacks can be linked to high blood cholesterol levels. When you have your cholesterol levels measured, the screening test that is usually performed is called a lipoprotein profile. This test is a simple blood test and it measures three things: LDL, HDL & Triglycerides.
LDL is the “bad” cholesterol. In fact, LDL by itself is a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. The lower this number is, the better it is for your overall health. Less than 100 mg/dL is considered to be the optimal level of LDL.
100 to 129 mg/dL is near optimal/above optimal. 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high. 160 to 189 mg/dL is considered high and 190 mg/dL and above is very high. Doctors often recommend that people with other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, aim for an LDL level below 100.
HDL is considered to be the “good cholesterol.” The higher this number is, the better it is for your health. HDL can give some protection against heart disease. An HDL blood cholesterol level of 60 mg/dL is considered ideal. An HDL blood cholesterol level of less than 40 in men and less than 50 in women is considered to put you at higher risk for heart disease.
Being overweight, inactive, or a smoker can result in lower HDL levels. To raise your HDL blood cholesterol levels, avoid cigarette smoke, participate in moderate physical activity and choose nutritionally-dense low-calorie foods.
This brings us to the final thing that is usually measured by the blood test – triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are fats that are carried in our blood. Sugar, alcohol or excess calories are converted into triglycerides. Typically, people with high triglycerides will have a high total cholesterol level, which includes high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Your triglyceride level will fall into one of four categories. Normal is less than 150 mg/dL. Borderline-High is 150–199 mg/dL. High is considered to be 200–499 mg/dL and very high is 500 mg/dL.
Fortunately, blood cholesterol levels can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medication, if desired.
Eating right plays a big role in controlling your blood cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association suggests that you keep your intake of total fat to between 25 percent and 35 percent, saturated fat consumption to less than 7 percent and your intake of trans fat to less than 1 percent of your total daily calories.
Being more physically active is important in controlling high cholesterol levels as well. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of physical activity at least 4 days a week (preferably every day). Exercise has the added benefit of helping to control the other risk factors for heart disease – weight, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Of course, many drug therapies for high cholesterol levels do exist. Many doctors want to try diet and exercise first before trying medication. Drug therapy for high cholesterol levels is something that you would want to discuss with your healthcare professional.
Reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke by knowing about your blood cholesterol levels and taking the appropriate actions to manage them.
Comments
Luci
June 17th, 2010 - 9:52:43 AM
I have been eating green (I mean vegies, non fat proteins and low carbs) all of my adult life. My test results just came back that I am still very high. I eat well, do not smoke, exercise regularly, lift weights, dance, walk and my total is 285. I just can't understand this. I am 5'2" and weigh 114 lbs. I drink 2 glasses of red wine every night. Could this possibly be the factor?
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myrna barnes
June 17th, 2010 - 4:53:25 PM
I am 53, and just got the results from my test, that my bad cholesterol is 152. This is a shocker, I too has always tried to watch my diet, and exercise. I too enjoy a glass or two of wine in the evenings. Is this a bad thing?
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Linda McDermott
June 21st, 2010 - 10:54:23 AM
Ask your Dr. to do a C reative protein test. It isn't the number in the LDL that is bad, it is are the lipo proteind small or large. Is there inflamation in the arteries of the heart. Too many Drs. just give you a statin when many do not neet them. Also statins take the Co-Q-10 from the heart and your heart needs it.
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carmen
June 21st, 2010 - 7:52:23 PM
Guys, I understand your fustration regarding the lipids. Problem is that you need to have an NMR lipid particle value study. this test will measure how many particles of HDL vrs LdL or small or large particles are in your circulation. Depends the results, This means that you may have it due to familial DNA influences. Therefore, Some individuals that eat right, exercise, do not smoke etc, they have high lipids due to familial inheritance. So, you need to be in medication in order to decrease this potential CVD. Continue doing what you are doing, this is what is maintaining you healthy mind and physically. take care
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Gail
June 28th, 2010 - 5:45:01 AM
I am a 54 year old 5'2" female weighing 100lbs. I exercise intensely- cardio, weight lifting and flexibility. I eat a VERY low fat, high fiber diet. My total cholesterol:223, HDL:133,TC ratio: 1.67, LDL:82,triglycerides:40. My doctor ignores the HDL and tells me to lower my fat intake. I struggle to keep my weight up as it is. comments?
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maxine minter
June 28th, 2010 - 3:45:35 PM
i would like to know more about high cholesterol mine is high
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Brent Waddoups
June 29th, 2010 - 7:37:31 AM
I am a 69 year old male weighting 190lbs and 5'10" tall. A recent test of a 210 total cholesterol,triglycerides=66,HDL=96.4,LDL=100.4,VLDL=13,chol/HDL=2.18,LDL/HDL=1.04. The lab report showed my total cholesterol & my LDL was a little high and my LDL/HDL was a little low. I have increased my HDL by 32 points since my last report 8 years ago with the other parameters staying about the same, with life style changes. I was told my total cholesterol was a little too high which was cuased by the HDL increase. Is a 96.4 HDL too high?
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COLLINS
July 8th, 2010 - 12:09:57 AM
Pls,am a student of Medical Laboratory Science and I want to know how this total Cholesterol is estimated that is the procedure and reagents.Pls send it to my mailbox.Thank you.I'll also like to getting more research procedure from you if any and other infomation.
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rie
July 8th, 2010 - 5:28:19 PM
Does a glass of red wine increase your LDL?
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albert
July 10th, 2010 - 7:50:40 PM
my cholesterol is high very high what should i do?
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pat
July 11th, 2010 - 1:35:00 PM
my cholesterol is 139, Triglycerides is 80, HDL is 52 and LDL is 71. How can I turn around the HDL and LDL.
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lucy
July 14th, 2010 - 6:50:49 PM
i am 57yrs old and my cholesterol count is 240. how bad is this? can i lower it with a diff diet and exercise?
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Yvette
July 15th, 2010 - 3:37:25 PM
I've recieved my report of total cholestoral being at 183 and was told that was normal. I think this is high for me and I had to ask for the HDL and LDL numbers. We know are bodies the best and it is up to us to investagate what I can do to help myself before I have a stoke or heart attack. Be blessed.
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Yvette
July 15th, 2010 - 3:40:19 PM
I've recieved my report of total cholestoral being at 183 and was told that was normal. I think this is high for me and I had to ask for the HDL and LDL numbers. We know are bodies the best and it is up to us to investagate what I can do to help myself before I have a stoke or heart attack. Thankyou for this website. Be blessed.
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alfonso quintero
July 19th, 2010 - 12:53:40 PM
My chlestoral is very high 460 how do i handle it
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Fred Bruegel
July 19th, 2010 - 8:02:28 PM
How do I convert metric readings to u.s.
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Medical Self Care
July 31st, 2010 - 3:44:52 PM
The measurement of cholesterol varies in healthy people & does not mean risk. Different measurements show variations in people's needs so long as it is not ABUSE! CAUTION to have too low an overall cholesterol reading. Also HDL when high enough can offset the LDL.
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carole
August 3rd, 2010 - 6:12:56 AM
I know there has got to be something to take to lower cholestrol with out statins. I diet and exercise.
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mia
August 3rd, 2010 - 1:33:15 PM
I am 70 years old. Each time i come back from a long cruise, where I "pig out" my cholesterol is 150-180, and then it will climb up again after few weeks at home. Anybody has an answer to that?
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MFB
August 13th, 2010 - 10:53:32 PM
After reading the comments posted, it is in my opinion that most of the people commenting appear clueless about the true cause of most cardio-vascular events. Based on many early studies as well as many ignored studies by the AMA, FDA, AHA & pharmaceutical companies, the conclusion is that one should be asking for the following strongly correlated cardio-vascular diseased markers: 1. c-reactive protein (should be < 1 ng/L), 2, homocysteine (should be < 6), 3. lipoprotein(a), 4. Heme-A1-C (should be < 5% which is related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, 5. check for all markers related to hypothyroidism including Hoshimoto's thyroiditus and other auto-immune thyroid disorders-a major cause of hyperlipodemia or high cholesterol levels. In most cases, after correcting the thyroid fuction, the cholesterol levels come right done to your normal range. You should also check your iodine,iodide & selenium levels which can have a major effect on thyroid function. And finally without going on and on, as an insurance to minimize inflamation of your cardiovascular system and help to normalize cholesterol and lipid levels, you should all be taking 1. Niacin in the form of inositol-hexonicotinate at 500 mg 2 or 3 times per day especially in the evening since the liver makes most of its cholesterol during sleep, 2. Vitamin B6 as pyridoxal-5-phosphate and pyridoxine HCl at 100 mg/day,3.Natural form of follic acid or follate at 400 to 800 micrograms/day(Please avoid any synthetic forms of follic acid which is commonly found in cereals and the like due to possible cancer connection), 4. Vitamin B-12 in the form of methyl-cobalamine only placed under the tonge at 1000 to 5000 micrograms (Please avoid the cyano-cobalamine form which is not very bio-available), 5. vitamin c at 2-5 grams every 4 hours, 6. vitamin E which includes all the 4 tocopherols and 4 triocontoenols at 400 to 800 IUs and 7. vitamin D3 at 4,000 to 10,000 IU, 8. Vitamin K1 at 500 micrograms, 9. vitamin K2 (methaquinone-7)at 100 to 500 micrograms, 10. Ubiquinol (reduced form and most bio-available form of CoQ10 at 200 to 400 mg/day and 11. Krill oil and lecithin. I hope this information will help alot of people. To your health!
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JC
August 23rd, 2010 - 12:11:07 PM
my Choles. serum is 229, LDL 106, HDL 111. - Triglyceride serum is 60. I am told I have high Cholesterol. I am very fit and eat well (pizza a couple or times a wk but only 1 or 2 slices and everything else in moderation with good portion control. I do like beer and have more than most per week ... My weight is good 160 - 5'8" - what can I do and what is the issue with the #'s... thanks ps i am 43
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SRemund
September 30th, 2010 - 1:10:22 PM
@JC You are fine. The only reason your Total Cholesterol is a little high is because your Healthy(HDL) is high which is good. Means your are at negative rick of Heart disease. Your LDL(Lousy fats( probably from the pizza, is a little up (<99), your Trigs are great. However, if you keep your pizza 3x week and the beer that could change. I would love to have your readings.
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jgibson
October 15th, 2010 - 4:44:35 PM
I was told last Wed. that my total cholesterol count was 750! I was put on zocor. I am 53, 5' 4" 121 lbs. I eat diet, lowfat foods, drink skim milk, fast food maybe twice a year, take the skin off my chicken, etc., exercise 4 days a week (walk briskly for 3 miles), AND don't smoke. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
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Rose
March 20th, 2011 - 12:57:33 PM
My family has a history of SCD, high cholesetorl...dad died at age 55, brother died at age 49, neither of which had the defibrillator/pacer implant...my other brother's machine went off to many times that he now has a heart implant...my older sister has had her machine go off many times...one more event, than she will be a candidate for a heart transplant...I had mine put in back in 2006...I blacked-out and knew I was due for an implant! Hadn't gone off yet...thank you Lord!..but now my dr. wants to include in my regiment of meds...the Slo Niacin to help lower my bad cholesterol which is at 195.I've had a bout with hepatitis which my present dr. does not know about...after reading about the bad risk to my liver, I opted not to include Niacin as part of my med regiment...anyone out there had any experience with including taking pravastatin with the Slo Niacin? Thanks...good luck to us all...aloha
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Bob hart
March 28th, 2011 - 2:49:26 PM
I am 65 years old. I exercise regularly . I am 5"6" and weigh 148. I just received my blood work results.My hdl is 85. My ldl 101.Triglicerides 94.My total cholesterol 205. I have been taking 10 mg. of crestor for several years...My doctor says that he would like to see my ldl down to 70. He wants to increase my crestor dosage to 20 mg. What do you think?
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sherri burgess
April 8th, 2011 - 9:45:12 PM
my high cholestterol is 187 my low is 127 are these good readings
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Carlos
May 4th, 2011 - 9:12:06 PM
My ldl is 143 and my hdl is 39 should I be worry? Im 40 yrs old and don't exercise. What should I do to better this numbers.
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susan price
May 25th, 2011 - 11:31:42 AM
My Cholesterol is 240 does anyone think this is real bad?
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Nick
May 27th, 2011 - 4:59:19 PM
My cholesterol is 265; HDL is 132, LDL is 122, triglycerides 55. Why is the HDL so high?
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