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Managing Cholesterol

Managing cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance, also called a lipid, that's produced by the liver. It's also found in foods high in saturated fat, like lard and butter. It's a vital part of the structure and functioning of our cells. However, too much cholesterol in your blood may lead to the slow buildup of plaque in the arteries over time, a disease called atherosclerosis.

A closer look

So how can something your body needs be harmful? Well, not all cholesterol is considered bad. There are actually three main components doctors evaluate when you have a blood test to check your cholesterol. They look at LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and another substance called triglycerides.

The fact is that cholesterol can be harmful to your health or your loved one's health when there's too much of it in the blood. Whether or not a person has high cholesterol may depend on his or her lifestyle. Eating a lot of saturated fats and not getting enough exercise can cause cholesterol levels to rise. High cholesterol is also, in part, a result of genetic makeup. Some people inherit genes associated with elevated levels of cholesterol. One such type of genetic makeup is called familial hypercholesterolemia. People with familial hypercholesterolemia can eat a healthy diet and exercise and still have high cholesterol.

Everyone with high cholesterol needs to keep it under control, but cholesterol management may be even more important for some groups of people, such as

  • People with diabetes
  • People with a family history of early heart disease
  • People with high blood pressure
  • Males over age 45
  • Females over age 55
  • Smokers
  • African Americans

If you fall into any of the categories above, ask your doctor to discuss how your cholesterol goals may be affected.

What's your cholesterol goal?

Managing high cholesterol may be different for you depending on your medical history and your health. Your doctor will look at the results of your cholesterol test, also known as a fasting lipid profile, and, using this information, along with your medical background, establish a cholesterol goal for you. Always ask what your cholesterol numbers mean, based on your complete health history, so you can work together with your doctor to manage your cholesterol.

Cholesterol guidelines

In general, guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommend that all adults over age 20 have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. Take a look at the guidelines below to get a better idea of where your cholesterol numbers should be.

Total cholesterol
  • Less than 200 mg/dL
  • 200-239 mg/dL
  • 240 mg/dL or higher
 
  • Desirable
  • Borderline high
  • High

Total cholesterol is based on your LDL (bad) cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL (good) cholesterol (HDL-C) counts. Generally, a lower number is better.

LDL-C
  • Less than 100 mg/dL
  • 100-129 mg/dL
     
  • 130-159 mg/dL
  • 160-189 mg/dL
  • 190 mg/dL or higher
 
  • Optimal
  • Near optimal/above optimal
  • Borderline high
  • High
  • Very high

LDL-C is considered the "bad" cholesterol because if you have too much LDL-C in your bloodstream, it can lead to the buildup of plaque in your arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Generally, lower is better.

HDL-C
  • 60 mg/dL or higher
  • Less than 40 mg/dL
 
  • High
  • Low

HDL-C is considered the "good" cholesterol because it helps return cholesterol to the liver, where it can be eliminated from the body. Generally, higher good cholesterol is better.


Triglycerides
  • Less than 150 mg/dL
  • 150-199 mg/dL
  • 200-499 mg/dL
  • 500 mg/dL or higher
 
  • Normal
  • Borderline high
  • High
  • Very high

Triglycerides, like cholesterol, are another substance that can be dangerous to your health. Like LDL-C (bad cholesterol), you want to keep your triglycerides low.

Source: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)

Depending on your overall health profile — which takes into consideration factors such as cigarette smoking, hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, a family history of early heart disease, and age (over 45 for men and over 55 for women) — your doctor may recommend that you have your cholesterol levels followed more closely.

It’s important to manage your cholesterol and reach your goals, because if you don’t, your high cholesterol may contribute to plaque buildup.