Cholesterol 101-Do You Know What The Numbers Mean?
By Para Mehta, RD/Healthfulfilling.com
When was the last time you got your cholesterol checked? When you
did get it checked, did your physician follow up with you about the
results, or did he/she say, " your cholesterol report is back and it looks
fine." Did you receive a written report about your cholesterol results, and
if so, did you understand what the numbers meant?
If not, then we're going to talk about that, so not only does it makes
sense, but you will be equipped to understand how important it is to
interpret those numbers so that you can become an active advocate for
your own cholesterol levels. Knowing your numbers is crucial since
having high cholesterol levels is a major risk factor for developing heart
disease!
It will also help ask the right questions to your physician regarding your
cholesterol levels. The following is a "road map" to understanding
cholesterol and what your results mean, and very importantly it will give
you the opportunity to possibly change a controllable major risk factor to
heart disease--in other words, knowing your cholesterol levels now and
doing something about it now, can help you prevent a heart attack.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat present in the blood and cells that is
involved in productions of hormones and cell membranes. It is normal to
have cholesterol present in the body. However, when excess cholesterol
exists, it can build up in artery walls of the heart, which is a major risk
factor for heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol comes from the body
and from food.
What kind of foods have cholesterol?
Cholesterol is found in any foods that are of animal origin, such as milk,
butter, cheese, eggs, meats, poultry, fish, etc. Any foods of plant origin
alone will not contain cholesterol.
What is the recommended limit of cholesterol intake per day?
Cholesterol intake from should be limited to less than 300 mg per day,
however if you have a high LDL (bad cholesterol) level or are taking
cholesterol lowering
medication, intake should be less than 200 mg per day.
How do I know how many milligrams (mg) of cholesterol are in the
foods I eat?
The good news is that all nutrition labels require cholesterol content as
part of the label. Check the packages and containers of the foods you
eat, and write down how much cholesterol you take in on a given day.
Be sure that it is done with foods you typically eat on a daily basis. It is
better if you do it for 3 typical days of eating and then average the
results, for a more accurate result.
What is a cholesterol test and what is the actual term?
A cholesterol test is called a fasting lipoprotein profile, and it measures
how much and what kind of cholesterol is in our blood. A fasting
lipoprotein profile includes testing of total blood cholesterol, HDL, LDL,
and triglycerides.
You must make sure that you have fasted for at least 9-12 hours (or what
your physician recommends) prior to the test to provide more accurate
results. The test is taken by drawing a sample of blood from your arm.
What is "good vs. bad" cholesterol?
Fortunately, not all cholesterol is harmful. The good cholesterol is HDL
(high density lipoprotein), because studies have indicated that this kind
seems to help protect against a heart attack as it is believed to carry
cholesterol away from the heart arteries and back to the liver and
eventually gets excreted.
The bad cholesterol is LDL (low density lipoprotein) and tends to
deposit cholesterol in to the heart arteries, aiding to form plaque ( a
thick, hard deposit) in the arteries which is known as atherosclerosis. A
clot formation in the narrowed heart artery can lead to a heart attack or
stroke. Another type of fat associated with heart disease is triglycerides.
High triglycerides are associated with high total cholesterol, high LDL,
low HDL levels, and with heart disease and/ or diabetes.
What are the normal levels for a lipoprotein profile?
The American Heart Association has the following guidelines for normal
fasting lipoprotein profile results.
Total cholesterol--less than 200 mg/dl
HDL--The higher the better
LDL-less than 100 mg/dl
Triglycerides--less than 150 mg/dl
What are the levels of the lipoprotein profile that indicate risk?
The American Heart Association lists the following guidelines.
Total Cholesterol
200-239 mg/dl borderline to high risk
240 mg/dl and over high risk
LDL Cholesterol (Bad Cholesterol)
The lower the LDL, the lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. LDL is
also a better measure for risk compared to total cholesterol level.
100-129 mg/dl Near optimal, above optimal
130-159 mg/dl Borderline high
160-189 mg/dl High
190 mg/dl and up Very high
HDL Cholesterol (Good Cholesterol)
Men under 40 mg/dl is higher risk for heart disease
Women under 50 mg/dl is higher risk for heart disease
An HDL of 60 mg/dl or above could be considered protective against
heart
disease.
Triglycerides
150-199 mg/dl Borderline to high
200-499 mg/dl High
500 mg/dl and above Very high
How often should I get my cholesterol checked?
The American Heart Association endorses the National Cholesterol
Education Program (NCEP) guidelines which recommends that all
adults age 20 or over should get a fasting lipoprotein profile once every
5 years.
A fasting lipoprotein profile might be needed more often than once every
five years if one or more of the following is applicable to you:
Total Cholesterol level is 200 mg/dl or more
If you are a male over age 45 or a female over age 50
If HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dl
If you have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke
Where should a fasting lipoprotein profile be taken?
It is best to get a fasting lipoprotein profile under the direction of your
physician, as your physician will interpret the results as well, and should
also work with you on a treatment plan if necessary.
What are some ways that cholesterol levels can be managed?
Practice a heart healthy eating lifestyle
Regular physical activity
Do not use tobacco or smoke
If you follow the road map above, you should now be more aware of how
to manage and take control of your cholesterol levels. Remember that
managing your cholesterol is very important since it is a controllable risk
factor in preventing heart disease. For further information on cholesterol
visit, www.americanheart.org, or the National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP) at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
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Updated 6/2009
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