Cholesterol

When doctors analyze levels of cholesterol in the body, they look at low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. High levels of LDL are considered harmful to the body and HDL is considered the “good cholesterol” and helps prevent arteries from clogging.

Cholesterol is an element that the body uses to develop healthy cells and hormones that are critical to the body. When your cholesterol is at unhealthy levels, it causes fatty deposits to grow on your blood vessels. These fatty deposits make it hard for blood to move and flow through your arteries. An inhibited blood flow causes a lack of oxygen to the blood which can lead to a heart attack or other heart-related diseases. Moreover, a lack of blood to the brain can cause a stroke.

When you have an unhealthy level of bad cholesterol in the body, doctors will likely diagnosis you with high cholesterol. The scientific name for high cholesterol is hypercholesterolemia and fortunately, it can be treated through medication and healthy diet and lifestyle.

There are no symptoms for bad cholesterol levels in the body or what’s called high cholesterol and therefore testing by a doctor has to be performed. A blood test is usually performed to determine the amount of cholesterol found in the body. Remember, cholesterol is found in every cell in the body and its presence is important to cell function. However, as explained before, there are good and bad types of cholesterol and those levels are determined by blood test. There are four elements that are measured in the blood test: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, can build up on the artery walls preventing the proper blood flow throughout the body. High levels of LDL in the blood can be an indicator of high cholesterol and higher risks of heart disease, stroke and heart attack. HDL cholesterol is considered good and has the opposite effect of LDL in the blood cells. It actually helps prevent the arteries from clogging. If you HDL levels are high, the doctor will likely determine a lower risk of heart-related issues.

The blood test will show the levels of cholesterol in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. This type of measurement is used in the United States and other countries; however, Europe and Canada use slightly different ranges. If your total cholesterol is in the range of 240 mg/dL and above, this is considered high and indicates a bad cholesterol level. It is desirable to stay under the 200 mg/dL level. LDL cholesterol levels, or what is considered “bad” cholesterol in the body, are measured in this test. If your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL and above, you are at a very high risk of heart-related problems. The optimal level of HDL, or good cholesterol, is 60 mg/dL and above. Doctors say you should aim for an LDL level below 130 mg/dL.

Doctors don’t just look at the numbers to determine your risk of cholesterol-related health problems. Doctors will also look at your level of risk. If you are at an unhealthy weight, smoke or have poor diet, the doctor may consider you at a higher risk, even if your levels don’t indicate a problem. Your blood pressure and family history of heart disease will also be considered along with your age. While doctors consider the LDL level of 130 mg/dL optimal, if you have risks factors for heart disease, the doctor will likely tell you to shoot for 100 mg/dL or less. The number decreases as your risk factor increases, therefore someone with a very high risk for heart disease may need to keep their bad cholesterol levels at under 70 mg/dL.