Cholesterol levels are something that people have been talking about for decades now. It’s not a new term or a new concept. But the truth of the matter is that most people will not even know what it is that ‘cholesterol’ as a term truly means.
Cholesterol is that waxy substance which is produced in the liver of your body and by certain other cells. It can also be found in foods like dairy products, meat or eggs.
Some amount of cholesterol is needed to function properly. But this should only be in a limited amount if it needs to help. If too much of cholesterol is present, it can do more harm than good.
Understanding the Numbers Related to Cholesterol:It is said that the levels of cholesterol should be measured and screened once in five years. Anyone over the age of 20 should stick to this thumb rule. The screening for cholesterol levels will include a blood test which is known as a lipoprotein profile. According to experts, men who are above the age of 35 and women who are above the age of 45 should regularly be screened for disorders like lipid disorders.
The lipoprotein disorder would include –
LDL – Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
HDL – High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (good cholesterol)
Triglycerides – Fats that are produced by the food we consume and are carried in the blood. If there are excess calories, sugar of alcohol in the body, it will get converted to triglycerides and will eventually get stored among the fat cells that are present throughout the human body.
When you get to your blood testing for lipoprotein profiling, you’ll realize that your blood test will involve a number of figures that are your cholesterol numbers. You need to understand how to interpret them.
LDL cholesterol will generally build up on the arterial walls and this might bring up the chances of the person getting affected by heart diseases. LDL cholesterol is said to be called ‘bad’ cholesterol. If you have a lower LDL level, it will be better for your health in the long run.
This is how you should try and interpret the numbers that show up on your cholesterol test results.
| LDL Cholesterol | LDL Cholesterol Category |
|---|---|
| Above 190 | Extremely High |
| 160 – 189 | High |
| 130 – 159 | Borderline of High |
| 100 – 129 | Near the Optimal Level |
| Below 100 | Optimal Level |
When it comes to the ‘good’ cholesterol of HDL cholesterol, the higher your number, the better it will be for you. HDL cholesterol is that cholesterol which helps in protecting the heart from heart diseases. It does so by keeping the ‘bad’ cholesterol out of your blood and will prevent it from building up in the arteries.
| HDL Cholesterol | HDL-Cholesterol Category |
|---|---|
| Less than 40 (men) | Higher Risk of heart disease |
| Less than 50 (women) | Higher risk of heart disease |
| Above 60 (men and women) | High Level HDL, lower risks of heart disease |
These are the chemical forms of the fats that exist in the body. A higher level of triglyceride is said to lead to coronary artery diseases in some cases.
A reading of less than 150 is extremely normal and higher than 500 should be considered as extremely high.
| Total Cholesterol | Category |
|---|---|
| 240 and Above | Extremely High |
| 200 – 239 | Bordering High |
| Less than 200 | Desirable |
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