High cholesterol is often referred to as a "silent disease." People with high cholesterol usually don't have any symptoms. That's why it's so important for adults to make sure they get a cholesterol screening at least every few years.
Cholesterol from foods you eat
Cholesterol from food is hard to get away from, even though you may be watching your diet. All foods of animal origin contain cholesterol, including eggs, red meat, and shrimp. Generally, foods that are high in saturated fats or trans fats should also be limited. These include foods you may not even think of, such as: Grilled-cheese sandwich, margarine, potato with butter, and chicken pot pie for example.
As you eat, cholesterol from food is absorbed by your digestive tract. It then makes its way into your liver and can circulate through your body in your bloodstream. It gets deposited in our arteries as plaque. That's one source. There's also a little-known second source of cholesterol-your body.
Cholesterol produced by your body, based on family history
Like many people, you may not know that your body produces cholesterol naturally, based on family history.
 |
High cholesterol often runs in families. Even though specific genetic causes have been identified in only a minority of cases, genes still play a role in influencing blood cholesterol levels.
Several other factors also affect blood cholesterol levels:
Weight – Excess weight tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Losing weight may help lower levels.
Exercise – Regular physical activity may not only lower LDL cholesterol, but it may increase levels of desirable HDL.
Age and Gender – Before menopause, women tend to have total cholesterol levels lower than men at the same age. Cholesterol levels naturally rise as men and women age. Menopause is often associated with increases in LDL cholesterol in women.
Stress – Studies have not shown stress to be directly linked to cholesterol levels. But experts say that because people sometimes eat fatty foods to console themselves when under stress, this can cause higher blood cholesterol.
There are two main types of cholesterol that can affect your health:
"Bad" cholesterol
Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, are known as the bad cholesterol that can clog your arteries. The higher the LDL level, the greater the risk for heart disease.
|
"Good" cholesterol
High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, have been nicknamed good cholesterol because they carry blood cholesterol back to the liver where it can be eliminated. They also prevent cholesterol buildup in the blood vessels. Low HDL levels increase heart disease risk.
There is a third type of cholesterol, called very-low-density lipoprotein, or VLDL. VLDL contains fats called triglycerides. High triglycerides, like high cholesterol, can put you at risk for heart disease.
What do the Numbers Mean?
"Bad" cholesterol (LDL)
| Less than 100 mg/dL |
Optimal |
| 100-129 mg/dL |
Near optimal/
above optimal |
| 130-159 mg/dL |
borderline high |
| 160-189 mg/dL or higher |
High |
| 190 mg/dL |
Very high |
"Good" cholesterol (HDL)
| 60 mg/dL or higher |
High |
| Less than 40 mg/dL |
Low |
Remember, HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so the higher the number, the better.
(Continued.. page 2)  |
