What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty, wax-like substance that is produced naturally in the liver and is present in every cell in the body. Your body needs cholesterol in order to function normally. Unfortunately, some people have more cholesterol than they need, putting them at risk for heart disease.

The good news is that there are steps that can be taken to improve your cholesterol and protect your heart.

What are the types of cholesterol?

There are two types of cholesterol in your blood:

Most healthcare professionals recommend that about half of a person’s daily calories come from carbohydrates.

• LDL (“bad”) cholesterol – it is called “bad” because it can attach to the inside walls of blood vessels. These fatty deposits thicken over time, narrowing the blood vessels. The fatty buildup, called plaque, increases the risk of heart attach and stroke because it can restrict the flow of blood to the heart and brain.
• HDL (“good”) cholesterol – is called “good” because HDL does two good things:
  -It helps clear away excess cholesterol from the walls of the arteries like a snowplow clearing a snow-filled street, preventing the build up of plaque in the walls of the vessels.
  -It then carries the cholesterol back to the liver, which gets rid of it.

Together with triglycerides, a third type of fat, they make up what your doctor may refer to as your “total Cholesterol” count.

By removing excess cholesterol from the body, HDL actively decreases your risk of having a heart attack. In fact, studies have shown that every 1% increase in your good cholesterol can reduce your risk of heart disease by at least 3%.

Triglycerides – are another fat that plays a role in heart disease. Much of the body’s fat is stored in the form of triglycerides for later energy.

High levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease. So can low levels of good cholesterol.

What factors affect my cholesterol?

• The amount of cholesterol produced naturally by the body are influence by age, weight, level of physical activity, and family history can impact the amount of cholesterol your liver produces.
• The amount of cholesterol and other fat in your diet are equally important. Foods high in saturated fat – such as red meat, dairy, and fried foods – can increase your cholesterol levels more than anything else you eat.

Important Information:

• Lowering your levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides is one way to decrease your risk of heart disease.
• Raising your levels of good cholesterol is another way to decrease your risk.
• Ask your doctor what your cholesterol test show, find our what your LDL, HDL, triglycerides levels have been and discuss their meaning.
• Ask your physician to evaluate your personal risk factors.

What should my cholesterol levels be?

Maintaining the right balance of cholesterol levels is important for reducing your risk of heart disease. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has established the following guidelines to help you manage your cholesterol:

• Depending on your individual risk factors for heart disease, your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol should be between 100 – 160.
• Your HDL (“good”) cholesterol should be 40 or, ideally, even higher.
• Your triglycerides should be 150 or less.
• Your total cholesterol should be under 200.

How can I improve my cholesterol?

If you need to improve your cholesterol levels, your doctor will recommend a healthy diet and exercise. By exercising and cutting down on fatty foods, you can lose weight and improve your cholesterol levels. However, if diet, exercise, have not helped you to reach a better cholesterol level, your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce your cholesterol.