High cholesterol
Cholesterol is necessary in the body to help build cell membranes, provide protective coating for nerves, and build hormones, such as testosterone. Too much cholesterol, especially in the blood stream, can cause a variety of dangerous health problems, however.
Healthcare providers measure cholesterol levels with a test called a lipid panel or lipid profile. It can be collected with a blood draw or a small amount of blood in a finger stick. It gives providers useful levels of total cholesterol, LDL (“bad” cholesterol), HDL (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides (blood fats), which they can use to more accurately assess an individual’s risk of health problems caused by elevated cholesterol.
Total blood cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dl increase a person’s risk of diseases such as heart disease and stroke. Levels equal to or above 240 mg/dl more than double that risk. LDL levels above 100mg/dl are considered high for many people, while others at low risk may be safe to run closer to 130mg/dl, depending on their risk factors for heart disease, such as age, blood pressure, gender, smoking status, etc. HDL levels should be above 40mg/dl to help reduce heart disease and stroke risk, and higher is better. This “good” cholesterol is the only one that people should strive to elevate. Triglycerides can cause health problems if they are over 150mg/dl.
It is important to remember that the foods a person eats before lipid panel testing can greatly affect the triglyceride level, so an individual should fast for at least 8 hours before a lipid panel test for best results. The exact levels that are considered too high for a person may vary depending on the most recent guidelines issued by medical organizations and associations, along with that individual’s risk factors. For example, someone with high blood pressure and diabetes who smokes and is 65 years old will have a much higher risk of heart disease than someone without those risk factors who is 20 years old. The former person will have lower total and LDL cholesterol goals than the latter. If you are curious about your recommended levels for your particular set of risk factors, consult your healthcare provider.
When cholesterol levels are too high, a person has a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. This is because proteins carrying cholesterol, such as LDL, can stick to blood vessel walls, forming what is called a plaque. If the plaque gets thick enough, it can decrease the diameter of the blood vessel enough to limit blood flow and oxygen to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Sometimes a plaque can rupture and form a blood clot, suddenly clogging a needed blood vessel. When this happens in the heart, it is called a heart attack. When this happens in the brain, it is called a stroke. These can be devastating, even fatal health conditions. Therefore, it is important to know the cholesterol levels recommended for you, know your current levels, and strive to make the changes necessary, along with your healthcare provider, to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
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