Why you should be concerned about high cholesterol

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, almost 74 million people, have high LDL, or bad cholesterol. Considering that people with high cholesterol are twice as likely to develop heart disease, these numbers are quite alarming.


The first step to addressing high cholesterol is to understand what it is. Cholesterol is gotten from two sources: from the food you eat and your body, the liver.

When you eat a high-fat diet, your body produces more cholesterol. This excess cholesterol begins to build up on the artery walls and forms a hard substance called plaque. As the plaque grows thicker, it narrows the opening of your vessels and makes it harder for your heart to pump blood, which over time can put undue stress on your heart. Plaque can also break open and create blood clots, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

The American Heart Association suggests that adults over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol checked every five years. When you do get your cholesterol checked, you’ll get back a series of numbers for different types of cholesterol.

Here's a guide:

Total cholesterol: a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

LDL (bad) cholesterol: the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries.

HDL (good) cholesterol: HDL helps remove cholesterol from your arteries.

Triglycerides: another form of fat in your blood that can raise your risk for heart disease.

Now that you know about each type of cholesterol, you should also understand how to calculate the numbers. According to the National Institutes of Health, the ideal levels of each are as follows:

Total cholesterol:

Normal: < 200 mg/dL
Borderline high: 200-239 mg/dL
High: >240 mg/dL
LDL (bad) cholesterol:

Optimal: < 100 mg/dL
Near or above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL
High: 160-189 mg/dL
Very high: >190 mg/dL
HDL (good) cholesterol:

Ideal: >60 mg/dL (considered protective against heart disease)
Acceptable: 40-59 mg/dL
Low: < 40 mg/dL
Triglycerides:

Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high: 150 - 199 mg/dL
High: 200 - 499 mg/dL
Very high: >500 mg/dL


If you’re one of the many who suffer from high cholesterol, don’t stress yourself:

There are easy steps you can take to improve your numbers. The Mayo Clinic suggests five lifestyle changes that can improve your cholesterol.

Eat heart-healthy foods: Choose healthier fats, eliminate trans fats, eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, increase fiber intake and add whey protein to your diet.

Exercise most days of the week and increase your physical activity.

Quit smoking.

Lose weight.

Drink alcohol only in moderation.

Though factors out of your control like age, gender and genetics can play a role in your cholesterol levels, there’s a lot that you can do to help put yourself on the path to lower cholesterol and lessen your chances of heart disease.

Keep fit, people...