Cholesterol levels must be measured at least as soon as every 5 years in everybody over age 20. The screening test that is typically carried out is a blood test called a lipid profile. Specialists advise that men ages 35 and older and women ages 45 and older be more often evaluated for lipid disorders.
The lipoprotein profile consists of:
Total cholesterol
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, likewise called “bad” cholesterol).
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called “great” cholesterol).
- Triglycerides (fats brought in the blood from the food we eat. Excess calories, or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and saved in fat cells throughout the body.)
Outcomes of your blood test will come in the types of numbers. Here is how to interpret your cholesterol numbers. The first thing you have to understand is that the numbers on their own are insufficient to forecast your risk of heart issues or to determine what you need to do to lower that risk. They are, instead, one part of a larger equation that includes your age, your blood pressure, your smoking cigarettes status, and your usage of blood pressure medicines. Your doctor will use this details to compute your 10-year risk for severe heart issues. Then the two of you will develop a strategy for lowering that risk.
LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol can develop on the walls of your arteries and increase your opportunities of getting heart disease. That is why LDL cholesterol is described as “bad” cholesterol. The lower your LDL cholesterol number, the lower your risk.
If your LDL is 190 or more, it is thought about very high. Your doctor will probably suggest a statin in addition to making healthy lifestyle options. Statins are medications that can help lower cholesterol levels.
You might also have to take a statin even though your LDL level is lower than 190. After figuring your 10-year risk, your doctor will advise a percentage by which you ought to aim to decrease your LDL level through diet, workout, and medication if required.
What Is Good Cholesterol?
When people talk about “good cholesterol,” they’re talking about high-density lipoproteins (HDL)– the kind of cholesterol that works positively in your bloodstream.
HDL, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides, and Lp(a) cholesterol make up your total cholesterol count, the magic number your doctor might be telling you to lower. In that count, HDL cholesterol is the kind you desire in greater numbers.
Why Is It Good?
Due to the fact that cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood, it counts on lipoproteins to transport it to and from cells. Good cholesterol is responsible for sweeping the artery-clogging bad cholesterol from the blood stream and taking it to the liver, adrenals, ovaries, and testes. In essence, HDL cholesterol is the “good cholesterol” since it gets rid of bad cholesterol from the body. Because of this, HDL cholesterol is responsible for lowering the hardening of the arteries, which decreases your risk of heart attack or heart disease.
Research has likewise found that having a low HDL level increases your chances of amnesia and dementia.
What the Numbers Mean
In a healthy person, 30 percent of the blood is made up of good cholesterol. The American Heart Association advises a HDL level higher than 60 mg/dL. An HLD level less than 40 for men and less than 50 for women is considered dangerous.
How to Raise Good Cholesterol
Good cholesterol can be raised in numerous ways, including:
- quit alcohol.
- reducing calorie consumption.
- avoiding foods high in trans fats acid and LDL cholesterol.
- dropping weight.
- stopping smoking cigarettes.
- exercising.
- adding soluble fiber and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.
HDL – Good Cholesterol
When it comes to HDL cholesterol– “good” cholesterol– a greater number indicates lower risk. This is because HDL cholesterol safeguards versus heart disease by taking the “bad” cholesterol out of your blood and keeping it from developing in your arteries. A statin can slightly enhance your HDL, as can work out.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the form in which most fat exists in food and the body. A high triglyceride level has been linked to greater risk of coronary artery disease. Here’s the breakdown.
What is good and bad cholesterol levels
Find out normal (good) and low/high (bad) cholesterol ratio from table-chart below:
| HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level | HDL Cholesterol Category |
|---|---|
| Less than 40 mg/dL | A major risk factor for heart disease |
| 40—59 mg/dL | The higher, the better |
| 60 mg/dL and higher | Considered protective against heart disease |
Total Cholesterol
Your overall blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and other lipid parts. Your doctor will utilize your total cholesterol number when determining your risk for heart disease and how best to handle it.
