In This article Know About
- Cholesterol Levels
- HDL Cholesterol Causes
- HDL Cholesterol Treatments
Cholesterol plays a vital role in the function of the nervous system, but high levels cause damage deep inside the body. Too much cholesterol may lead to a buildup of plaque inside the arteries, which is a risk factor for a heart attack or stroke.
Cholesterol Test
While without any symptoms in the beginning, high cholesterol can be uncovered by regular screening. It is recommended that everyone over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol levels checked once every four to six years.
Before undergoing the cholesterol blood test, one is required to refrain from eating or drinking for a period of nine to 12 hours. This fasting is necessary to get an accurate reading of LDL cholesterol.
The screening results will show information about total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It is important to understand that the results themselves are not enough to predict your risk of heart problems; it is necessary to evaluate the results with respect to age, blood pressure, smoking status, and family predisposition to heart disease and high cholesterol.
Cholesterol Types
Cholesterol is divided into "good" HDL cholesterol and "bad" LDL cholesterol. HDL and LDL are actually the transporters of cholesterol in the blood, called lipoproteins.
HDL means “high-density lipoprotein” - this is the "good" cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol away from your arteries and removes excess arterial plaque, which may help prevent heart disease.
LDL stands for “low-density-lipoprotein” – this is the "bad" cholesterol that may build up in your arteries, forming plaque that narrows your arteries and makes it difficult for blood to get to your heart. The fact is that LDL cholesterol is only dangerous when it becomes oxidized.
Cholesterol Levels
LDL cholesterol
- Optimal: less than 100 mg/dL
- Near-optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL
- Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL
- High: 160 to 189 mg/dL
- Very high: 190 mg/dL and above
HDL cholesterol
- Low: less than 40 mg/dL
- High: 60 mg/dL or above
Total cholesterol
- Desirable: less than 200 mg/dL
- Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL
- High: 240 mg/dL or above
Total cholesterol measures the combination of LDL, HDL, and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein – a precursor of LDL). A total cholesterol score lower than 200 is considered healthy in most cases but, ideally, the total cholesterol score should be below 170 in people under the age of 19.
Keep in mind that having high cholesterol numbers does not equate to having heart disease, and having normal cholesterol numbers does not necessarily mean there's no risk.
HDL Cholesterol Causes
If your HDL cholesterol levels measure 40 mg/dL or less, you will be diagnosed with low HDL cholesterol. HDL means "high-density lipoprotein" - this is the "good" cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol away from your arteries and gets rid of any excess by excreting it into the intestines along with bile.
HDL actually carries the LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein), triglycerides, and harmful fats back to the liver. The liver breaks them down so that too much cholesterol doesn’t build up in the bloodstream. The problem occurs when there is too much LDL and not enough HDL to carry it back, creating an imbalance that may lead to a heart disease.
HDL Levels
Optimal levels for HDL cholesterol are over 40 mg/dL for men and over 50 mg/dL for women. While we have all heard about the importance of raising HDL and lowering LDL to improve heart health, for a certain group of people, the elevated levels of HDL (60 mg/dL or above ) mean a high risk for recurrent coronary events.
What Causes the Drop or Raise?
HDL is a protein made by the body that is primarily genetically determined. However, environmental factors also have a significant impact on HDL levels.
Factors that could cause your HDL levels to be too low are: smoking, high triglycerid levels, uncontrolled diabetes, a diet high in carbohydrates and saturated fat, lack of physical activity, being overweight, and certain medications (anabolic steroids, progestins).
Factors that elevate HDL concentrations include chronic alcoholism, treatment with oral estrogen replacement therapy, extensive aerobic exercise, and treatment with niacin, statins, or fibrates. Sometimes, a temporary drop in HDL occurs when major changes have been made in the diet and total cholesterol has been lowered significantly.
When you know the factors, keeping it in balance is the key to success. If you have been diagnosed with low or high HDL levels, discuss the best treatment plan with your physician.
HDL Cholesterol Treatments
HDL - high-density lipoprotein known as the "good" cholesterol - is a protein made by the body and is primarily genetically determined. Fortunatelly, there are options to significantly influence the formation of either LDL or HDL just by making changes to our lifestyle.
HDL Levels
HDL means "high-density lipoprotein" - this is the "good" cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol away from your arteries and get rid of any excess by excreting it into the intestines along with bile. Optimal levels for HDL cholesterol are over 40 mg/dL for men and over 50 mg/dL for women. If your HDL cholesterol levels measure 40 mg/dL or below, you will be diagnosed with low HDL cholesterol. While we have all heard the higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the better, for a certain group of people, the elevated levels of HDL (60 mg/dL or above ) also mean a high risk for recurrent coronary events.
Factors within your control — such as inactivity, obesity and an unhealthy diet — contribute to high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. The following simple tips can help you keep cholesterol levels in balance.
Stop Smoking
When you stop smoking, it may improve your good cholesterol levels by as much as 10%.
Keep Yourself Physically Active
Starting an aerobic exercise program could increase your good cholesterol by 5% in the first two months.
Pay Attention to What You Eat
Limit refined sugars and carbohydrates in your diet and increase your fiber intake. For example nuts are high in fiber and protein, and many are low in carbohydrates, also add seeds and non-starchy vegetables (e.g. broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers, celery, brussels sprouts, strawberries, plums, and pears). Men should eat 30 to 38 grams of fiber per day, and women should get 21 to 25 grams per day.
Very beneficial are foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, like flaxseeds, walnuts, canola oil and fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, sea bass and sardines.
Very low fat diets will lower HDL as well as LDL cholesterol. Limit or avoid saturated fats. These are found found in animal products and animal fats. To limit your intake, eat less cheese, butter, whole milk, cream, lard and high-fat cuts of meat such as beef, pork and lamb. Remove skin from poultry and trim visible fat from meat before cooking to reduce the saturated fat content.
Medication
If the above measures do not help raise your HDL levels, your physician may suggest some medication to help you increase the HDL levels as well as lower the LDL and triglyceride levels. Such are niacin, fibrates and statins. Niacin is usually the first choice out of medicaments to increase HDL cholesterol. It can be purchased over-the-counter, but prescription niacin is preferred, as it has the least side effects. Fibrates can also help increase HDL cholesterol levels. Statins block the enzyme in liver that helps to make cholesterol. This leads to a reduction of the blood cholesterol level but cholesterol levels start to rise again once you stop taking them.
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Know About HDL Cholesterol Causes & Treatments
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