What are the proper cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is some kind of fat that plays so many roles in the human body. For example it synthesizing hormones and vitamin D or even assists in transporting of lipids. You can find choloesterol in food that you consume but also it is made in your organism by the liver.

Having too much cholesterol can couse complications like for example chest pain witch can be a sign of a heart attack there is also a posibillity of a stoke.

Cholesterol levels chart

Cholesterol level recomended by age and sex? why is it the main factor? well with people getting older cholesterol level rises, for example cholesterol levels tend to rise after the age of menopause.

So the cholesterol chart for aduls looks like this:

• Good: Total cholesterol – Less than 200 (but the lower the better), HDL cholesterol- Ideal is 60 or higher; 40 or higher for men and 50 or higher for women is acceptable, LDL cholesterol- Less than 100; below 70 if coronary artery disease is present, Triglycerides- Less than 149; ideal is less than 100,
• Borderline to moderately elevated: Total cholestero l- 200 to 239, HDL cholesterol- n/a, LDL cholesterol- 13 to 159, Triglycerides- 150 to 199,
• High: Total cholestero l- 240 or higher, HDL cholesterol- 60 or higher,LDL cholesterol- 160 or higher; 190 considered very high, Triglycerides- 200 or higher; 500 considered very high,
• Low: Total cholesterol: n/a, HDL cholesterol: less than 40 for men and less than 50 for women, LDL cholesterol: n/a, Triglycerides: n/a.

That was cholesterol chart for aduls and so now lets see cholesterol chart for children:

• Good: Total cholesterol – 170 or less, HDL cholesterol- Greater than 45, LDL cholesterol- Less than 110, Triglycerides – Less than 75 in children 0 to 9, less than 90 in children 10 to 19,
• Borderline: Total cholesterol – 170–199, HDL cholesterol- 40-45 LDL cholesterol- 110–129 Triglycerides- 75–99 in children 0–9; 90–129 in children 10–19,
• High: Total cholesterol – 200 or higher, HDL cholesterol- n/a, LDL cholesterol- 130 or higher, Triglycerides-100 or more in children 0–9; 130 or more in children 10–19,
• Low: Total cholesterol – n/a, HDL cholesterol-Less than 40, LDL cholesterol: n/a, Triglycerides: n/a.

What mg dl means? what ldl cholesterol is?

mg/dl means miligrams per deciliter. Most of medical tests results are shown with it.

Ldl cholesterol is Low-density lipoprotein sometimes it is even called a bad cholesterol. High level of this cholesterol is a risk of a stroke or a heart disease. If you have high”bad” cholesterol level to lover the risk of heart disease like for example heart attack your doctor may recommend a cholesterol-lowering medicine and may tell you to change your lifestyle for a healthier one. There is also something called VLDL which means very low density lipoproteins and it is being produced in the liver and is released into the bloodstream to supply body tissues with triglycerides.

A few words about cholesterol

All body cells contain cholesterol, it is fat like substance. Normal cholesterol levels are necessary to hormones and vitamins production, as well as other compounds. Cholesterol intake into the body is provided by food, but also the body makes cholesterol. Among the food reach in the cholesterol is the one of animal origin, especially processed foods.

Types of cholesterol

Cholesterol could be transported through the body via blood’s lipoproteins. There are three types of such lipoproteins:

• HDL cholesterol, high density lipoproteins. Its function is to move cholesterol to the liver, where is degraded,
• LDL,
• cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, named bad cholesterol,
• A high level of bad cholesterol could lead to the cholesterol buildup in the blood vessels and triglycerides.

Where did bad cholesterol come from?

The situation when the cholesterol test revealed the high blood cholesterol level is named hypercholesterolemia. Among the risk factors of high so called “bad” cholesterol levels is the effect of diet riched in the trans fats (trans fat intake should be around 0 grams of trans fat per day), saturated fat. Not having a healthy lifestyle and being overweight affect cholesterol levels. Women’s LDL levels tend to be more affected, especially after menopause. The important risk factor is family history. Problems with cholesterol levels could run in the family, named familial hypercholesterolemia.

The consequences of the high level of bad cholesterol

High “bad” cholesterol levels lead to serious problems, it carries cardiovascular risk. Cholesterol plaques in the blood vessels could alter the proper blood flow, leading to high blood pressure. When plaques are in the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the organs in the body, the risk of heart disease dramatically increased. Bad cholesterol could be the reason for developing heart disease, coronary heart disease, or even heart attacks.

Risk factors

Factors that can couse increased risk “bad” level of cholesterol are:

• Poor diet – When you will eat to much of saturated fats or trans fats it can couse you with reaching high “bad” cholesterol level,
• Obesity – When your BMI is about 30 or more it puts you in danger of high cholesterol level,
• Lack of exercises – Excercises helps with rising the “good” cholesterol level,
• Smoking – Ciggarets cam lower the “good” level of your cholesterol,
• Alcohol – By drinking alcohol your total cholesterol level can rise,
• Age – When we are getting older our liver gets less able to remove LDL cholesterol.

Facts about saturated fats

Have you ever heard that food that includes saturated fats are for example butter, coconut oil, palm oil, cheese or even red meat? Yes it true those products contains a lot of saturated fat which can lead to heart diseas and many other health problems.

Fun fact

If you think that there are only bad types of fats you were wrog! surprise surprise there are also good fats like polyunsaturated fats.

How to measure the blood cholesterol level?

To cholesterol checked it is necessary to perform a simple blood test. The following parameters will be measured: total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, Non-HDL cholesterol, and the ratio between cholesterol and HDL. Beyond the cholesterol levels chart, it is recommended to a lipoprotein panel be performed.

What are the proper cholesterol levels?

It is time to answer the question concerning the proper cholesterol levels. But the answer is not simple since the proper cholesterol level is different depending on age and sex. What is tricky, sometimes people have a too low level of LDL cholesterol with a concomitant increase in the HDL cholesterol level. The best option is to see a doctor who provides medical advice.

How to reduce bad cholesterol?

The most important thing is to reduce trans fats and saturated fat. To lower cholesterol levels it is necessary lifestyle changes and healthy fats intake. Even modest weight loss could be helpful and it will minimalize the risk of heart disease. Sometimes it is necessary to take cholesterol lowering drugs to reach healthy cholesterol levels. The best way is to contact someone who provides medical advice, especially when you are at risk of familial hypercholesterolemia. To avoid serious health disturbances, heart disease including, it is important to do preventive examinations, and measure cholesterol levels and make lipoprotein panel. It is the best health solution.