Define Cholesterol - What It Does To Your Health

Although cholesterol levels are not the only important information to determine whether you are in good shape, but surely it's a very good indication of your susceptibility to heart diseases - the number one killer in the states causing death of more than 2200 Americans every day.
What is Cholesterol?
To define cholesterol, it is a waxy, sticky fat like substance, which we rely on keeping our body function normally. Our livers produce most of the cholesterol that we need for our every day live. The rest of them come from food, such as shellfish, meats, dairy products. Sufficient level of cholesterol is needed for digestion process and to produce vitamin D and hormones.
Cholesterol is a form of lipoprotein that serves to emulsify lipid or commonly known as fat. There are two types of lipoproteins that make up cholesterol in our body:

• High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - the "good" cholesterol, it naturally transports fats through the body to the liver for removal.
• Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) - the "bad" cholesterol because having too much of it will be at great risk of having heart disease.

And there is Total Cholesterol which is the sum of LDL and HDL.
Cholesterol itself is not harmful until it reaches a certain level. Excessive LDL can build up in the artery walls as plaque causing the artery walls to become narrow slowing down blood flow or causing it to stop completely. Excessive of LDL can also lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
High level of LDL cholesterol is the major cause of heart disease. Since persons with high levels of cholesterol have no warning signs or symptoms, it can easily be neglected until the damage is done. Individuals who are obese, having unhealthy diet, or family members having medical history of high cholesterol are at high risk for coronary artery disease.
Numbers to Watch Out For
"Good" HDL Cholesterol Level:

• Less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women usually indicates high risk of heart disease.
• Borderline is 40 mg/dL to 49 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL to 59 mg/dL for women.
• Optimal is over 49 ml/dL and 59 ml/dL for men and women respectively.

"Bad" LDL Cholesterol Level:

• Optimal is less than 100 mg/dL.
• Near optimal is 100 to 129 mg/dL.
• Borderline is 130 to 159 mg/dL.
• High cholesterol is 160 to 189 mg/dL.
• Very high cholesterol is 190 mg/dL and up.

Total Cholesterol Level;

• Optimal is below 200mg/dL.
• Near optimal is 200 to 239 mg/dL.
• High cholesterol is over 240mg/dL.

For those who are over thirty, it is recommended to have your cholesterol tested once a year. Be sure to fast at least 9 hours before your blood test for the most accurate result.

Posted in: Heart Disease