What Type Of Cholesterol Is Good
HDL is the good type of cholesterol that helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your body through the liver. As a result, HDL can protect arteries and prevent plaque build-up in your blood vessels. This type of cholesterol is known as good cholesterol and aiming to have higher levels of HDL in your body is beneficial. Women should ideally have levels higher than 55 mg/dL and men should have levels higher than 45 mg/dL. Avoiding smoking, as well as making sure to exercise regularly and eat soluble fiber and healthy fats such as coconut oil and fatty fish are all ways to elevate your HDL levels.
Why Is My Hdl So High
Certain genes make you more likely to have high HDL cholesterol. Inherited high HDL sometimes protects against heart disease, but sometimes it increases the risk. For example, people with a change in the gene SCARB1 have larger than normal HDL cholesterol particles in their blood that increase their heart disease risk.
What Is Cholesterol Anyway
Cholesterol is a fatty compound, known as a lipid, that your body uses to digest food, produce hormones, and make vitamin D. Your body produces all the cholesterol it needs, but its also present in many of the foods you eat. If you eat too many cholesterol-rich foods, your cholesterol levels can increase, which may lead to health problems.
You have three types of cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins , high-density lipoproteins , and triglycerides. While you need to have a certain amount of each type of cholesterol, you also need to maintain them in a specific balance.
LDL, sometimes referred to as the bad cholesterol, travels through your bloodstream, depositing itself wherever your body needs it. Its labeled as bad cholesterol because when you have too much of it, the excess ends up deposited in your arteries.
HDL is called the good cholesterol because it picks up excess LDL cholesterol from your arteries. HDL takes extra LDL cholesterol to your liver, where its processed and removed from your body.
Triglycerides are another type of lipid in your blood. Your body makes triglycerides with the calories it doesnt need to use right away. The substance is stored in your cells until your body releases them for energy between meals. High levels of triglycerides contribute to the hardening or thickening of your artery walls as well as pancreatitis.
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What Is A Healthy Cholesterol Level
This table is a general guide for ideal cholesterol and triglyceride levels for healthy adults in the UK. If you have a condition such as heart disease or diabetes, your target levels may be lower your doctor will be able to tell you your individual targets.
| Above 6 is considered high risk – the lower this figure is the better | Above 6 is considered high risk – the lower this figure is the better |
How Can I Manage My Cholesterol
If your blood work shows elevated cholesterol, we can help you lower your numbers and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Depending on your needs, we might use lifestyle modifications to lower your cholesterol, including:
- Dietary changes
- Adding physical activity to your daily routine
- Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
- Smoking cessation
However, if lifestyle changes arent enough to help you reach healthy cholesterol levels, we can also prescribe medicines such as cholesterol absorption inhibitors and fibrates.
If youre due for a cholesterol screening or wellness exam, or you want to check in on your health, call Advance Medical Group at one of our three convenient locations or make an appointment online today.
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What Are Normal Levels Of Cholesterol
Normal levels of cholesterol are different depending on your age and sex. These guidelines show desirable total, non-HDL, LDL and HDL levels by age and sex.
Table 1: Target cholesterol levels by age and sex
| Age and sex |
|---|
cholesterol
cholesterol
People aged 19 years and younger Men aged 20 years and olderWomen aged 20 years and older
The table above spells out the numbers for normal cholesterol levels. The table below shows cholesterol levels that are higher than normal. High cholesterol numbers vary by age group and sex and may be different for those who have heart disease. These guidelines represent high cholesterol numbers for those who do not have heart disease.
Table 2: High total, non-HDL and LDL cholesterol levels by age and sex
| Age and sex |
|---|
| People aged 19 years and younger |
Borderline: 170-199 mg/dL
High: Greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL
Borderline: 120-144 mg/dL
High: Greater than or equal to 145 mg/dL
Borderline: 110-129 mg/dL
High: Greater than or equal to 130 mg/dL
High: Greater than or equal to 239 mg/dL
Near optimal or above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL
Very high: Greater than 189 mg/dL
High: Greater than or equal to 239 mg/dL
Near optimal or above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL
Very high: Greater than 189 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol levels
If you do not have heart disease or blood vessel disease, and you are not at high risk for developing heart disease, the optimal number is less than 100 mg/dL.
Triglycerides
What Your Numbers Mean
Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood . Your total blood cholesterol is the number you normally receive with your test results. To determine your risk for heart disease, it’s also important to know how this number breaks down into LDL cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , and triglyceride levels.
Here’s a guide to interpreting your test results:
Total Blood Cholesterol Level
Your total blood cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:
Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dLIn this range, your heart attack or stroke risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors. Almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL. Have your cholesterol levels measured every five years-or more often if you’re a man over 45 or a woman over 55.
Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dLAbout a third of American adults are in this group. Have your cholesterol and HDL rechecked in one to two years if your total cholesterol is in this range if your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL or if you don’t have other risk factors for heart disease.Talk to your healthcare provider about managing your individual risk.
High risk: 240 mg/dL and overAbout 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is greater in this range. In general, people who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL.
LDL Cholesterol Level
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The Total Amount Of Cholesterol In Your Blood
Whats healthy? Government advice has moved away from giving absolute figures, but ideally your cholesterol should be be 5 mmol/L or less, or 4 mmol/L if youre at high risk of CVD, or you have high blood pressure, diabetes or have had a cardiovascular event.
What should I do? If your TC level is too high, you can help bring it down by making some simple diet and lifestyle changes, such as:
- Being more active.
- Cutting down on foods rich in saturated fats, such as butter, lard and full-fat dairy.
- Swapping fatty meats for lean meats, such as chicken.
- Eating more foods with healthy fats, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds and oily fish.
- Having meat-free days – try Quorn® or soya products instead.
- Eating more fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, especially oats and barley.
-
Including more foods fortified with plant sterols or stanols in your diet.
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when you need to be tested again.
Recommended Normal Cholesterol Levels In The Uk
The average cholesterol level for people in the UK varies according to gender, age, and other factors out of your control. But, if youre interested in lowering cholesterol and keeping it at healthy levels, what are the figures you should be aiming for?
The NHS as a general guide recommends that total cholesterol levels should be 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults, and 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk of heart and circulatory diseases. As a guide, levels of good HDL cholesterol should be at least 1mmol/L and levels of bad LDL cholesterol should be below 3mmol/L for healthy adults, and 2mmol/L or less for those at high risk.
Your doctor may talk to you about your level of non-HDL cholesterol. This is now sometimes used as a measurement instead of LDL, and includes your LDL cholesterol and other forms of bad cholesterol.
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When Should You Contact Your Healthcare Provider About Your Cholesterol Levels
In truth, your healthcare provider will probably talk to you about your numbers first. As always, contact your provider if you have any new or worsening pain or other uncomfortable feelings. Make sure you know what medications you take and what they are expected to do. Call the provider if you have a reaction to the medicine.
Before you go to the office, and after you have had a cholesterol test, it helps to have a list of questions prepared about your test results and any proposed treatment.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
When considering cholesterol numbers, its important to remember that you really have the ability to make those numbers go in your favor. What you choose to eat, how much you are able to move and how you deal with lifes ups and downs are things that you can influence.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/31/2020.
References
Are There Ways To Manage High Cholesterol Levels
Yes, there are ways to manage high cholesterol levels, including the following:
If your cholesterol is high, it will take time and effort to improve your cholesterol levels and cholesterol ratio. You should count on at least three months of lifestyle changes and possibly taking daily medication. The results, though — a healthier heart and lower risk of heart attack or stroke — are well worth the effort.
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Ldl Cholesterol: ‘bad’ Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, is the type that tends to deposit on the walls of the arteries. White blood cells combine with the LDL cholesterol, forming artery-narrowing plaque, which restricts blood flow. The optimal level of LDL cholesterol for most people is 100 mg/dL or lower. If you have heart disease, you may need to strive for LDL levels of 70 mg/dL or lower.
Diet And Lifestyle Changes
A doctor will look at your overall risk of cardiovascular disease and make recommendations to reduce high blood cholesterol as well as managing other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and being overweight.
Reducing high blood cholesterol levels typically involves decreasing the total cholesterol level by decreasing LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintaining or increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
- LDL-cholesterol levels are best decreased by eating less saturated fat
- Triglyceride levels are best reduced by eating less sugar-containing foods, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing the intake of total fat
- HDL-cholesterol levels are best increased by exercise, substituting saturated fats with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat , and maintaining a healthy weight.
Heart-healthy dietary changes are summarised in our Heart disease diet page.
Other lifestyle changes should include:
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Limiting alcohol intake
Heart-healthy exercise suggestions are summarised in our Heart disease exercise page.
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Whats A Good Cholesterol Number
You want low LDL and triglyceride levels, but higher HDL levels. Optimal LDL levels are less than 100 and are still considered near optimal if theyre less than 130. Your HDL level should be 60 or higher, and its a risk to your health if its less than 40. Your triglycerides should be less than 150.
While you need to consider your cholesterol numbers individually, you should also think about your cholesterol ratio . Ideally, your cholesterol ratio should be between 3.5 and 1. This can get complicated if all your cholesterol levels are high, but you have sufficient HDL to clear the extra LDL from your blood effectively.
What’s More Important Total Cholesterol Or Ratio
Studies suggest that the total cholesterol to HDL ratio is a better marker of the risk of heart disease than LDL cholesterol levels alone. Another method of assessing cholesterol levels is calculating a non-HDL cholesterol level. This is measured by subtracting HDL cholesterol from the total cholesterol.
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Higher Cholesterol Ok If The Right Kind
“WHAT’S MY cholesterol, doc?” It’s a common question and important to know. But some cholesterol is good for your health and some is bad. Having too much bad cholesterol can be even more dangerous if combined with other illnesses such as diabetes.
“Bad” cholesterol is called LDL and “good” cholesterol is HDL . To remember which is which, you want to keep LDL low, and HDL high. Most of us have a lot more bad than good cholesterol, which is why we often hear that “lowering cholesterol” is a good thing.
Most research suggests that having less LDL and more HDL in your blood helps prevent clogged arteries. And clogged arteries can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
High LDL and low HDL can be caused by many things: poor diet, obesity, lack of physical activity, tobacco smoking, genetics, gender and age.
Foods that increase LDL are mostly from animal products such as meat, fats and milk. Lack of physical activity and tobacco smoke tend to lower HDL cholesterol. If your father suffered from clogged arteries before age 55, or your mother before age 65, your family may have a genetic predisposition toward high LDL cholesterol.
Women tend to have less LDL cholesterol than men until they are about age 65, then both genders are similar.
Talk to your doctor about when and how often you should check your cholesterol. If you have risk factors that cause high LDL and low HDL, as mentioned above, you should probably start getting checked about every five years at age 20.
Can Bad Cholesterol Levels Be Too Low Can Good Cholesterol Levels Be Too High
It isnt often that people have bad cholesterol that is too low or good cholesterol that is too high. There are studies being done that suggest that extremes of any kind are not healthy for everyone.
Even though there is no clear-cut number about what LDL level is too low, levels under 40 mg/dL may be associated with certain health issues, including depression/anxiety, and hemorrhagic stroke.
However, there is data from clinical trials to support that there is no evidence of harm when LDLs remain < 40mg/dl on statin therapy.
In some cases, genetic conditions can cause you to have very low cholesterol levels. In other cases, nutritional problems, some cancers, hypothyroidism and certain infections can also cause low cholesterol levels. In any of these types of situations, the underlying issues need to be addressed.
In terms of having too much of a good thing, researchers are studying the effects of too much HDL, the good cholesterol. No conclusions have been reached, but there have been studies into the possible relationship between high HDL and cancer, and a greater risk of heart attack among the high risk. Excessively high HDL may be dysfunctional HDL and not protective.
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How Can You Prevent High Cholesterol Levels And Coronary Heart Disease
Prevention methods are very much the same as treatment methods. First, dont smoke. If you do smoke, make plans to quit now. Find ways to add physical activity to each of your days. Take steps to keep your weight in a healthy range. Eat well. Consider following the Mediterranean diet. It is the only diet proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Take care of any other medical conditions you might have by following your healthcare providers advice and instructions. Learn to really relax and calm down.
How Is The Total Cholesterol Or Blood Cholesterol Test Done
A blood test is a routine test. A phlebotomist is a person whose job is to draw blood. Blood is usually drawn from the vein in your arm. You will sit down and the phlebotomist will wrap a rubber band around your upper arm so that the vein in your elbow sticks out. Then they will use a needle to puncture the vein and remove blood. The blood is sent to the lab to be examined.
Youve probably been at health fairs where testing is offered. In that case, the person performing the test takes a drop of blood from your finger. The finger-stick test uses a small blade to poke a hole in the tip of your finger to get the blood.
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Does High Hdl Offset High Ldl
4.5/5HDL doesLDLLDLcholesterolhigh HDLLDLhighHDLhigh
Similarly one may ask, why do I have high HDL and high LDL?
People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL cholesterol level and a low HDL cholesterol level. Underlying diseases or genetic disorders can also cause high triglyceride levels.
Likewise, what should I do if my LDL is high? 1.Eat heart-healthy foods