| Understanding cholesterol numbers is an important first | | | | consuming a diet high in saturated fat, and alcoholism. |
| step in reducing a person's risk of heart attack or | | | | Less than 100 mg/dl is considered optimal, 100 – 129 |
| stroke. Cholesterol is not the bad actor it is so often | | | | is generally considered healthy, 130 -159 is borderline |
| made out to be. In fact cholesterol, and their fatty | | | | high, 160 -189 is high, and anything is over 190 is |
| cousins triglycerides, are essential for cell and muscle | | | | considered high risk. |
| health, brain and nervous system function, and play a | | | | *HDL or high density lipoproteins are known as good |
| vital role in the absorption of fat and fat soluble | | | | cholesterol and help keep cholesterol from building up in |
| vitamins. The body uses cholesterol to produce vitamin | | | | the arteries. In other words high levels of HDL actually |
| D and various hormones, such as estrogen and | | | | protect us from heart and artery disease. 60 or over is |
| testosterone. So it becomes clear that part of | | | | considered heart healthy, 50 to 59 is considered good, |
| understanding cholesterol numbers is recognizing that | | | | 40 to 49 borderline low, and anything below 39 is |
| having some cholesterol is very important to overall | | | | considered high risk. |
| health. It is only when cholesterol and triglyceride levels | | | | *Total cholesterol is a combination of LDL, HDL, and |
| are consistently too high do health concerns start to | | | | triglycerides (another fat in the blood). Less than 200 is |
| appear. | | | | considered good, 200 to 239 is borderline high, and |
| Part of the problem with keeping cholesterol in healthy | | | | anything over 240 is considered high risk. |
| balance is that our liver produces ample amounts of | | | | *There is one more twist in our article about |
| this waxy substance, thus overzealous amounts of | | | | understanding cholesterol numbers. Quite a few |
| cholesterol consumed from high saturated fat foods | | | | cardiology professionals believe it is the ratio between |
| will cause our numbers to rise. | | | | LDL and HDL that is the key reading for coronary |
| *LDL or low density lipoproteins are known as bad | | | | risk. Having a blood lipid profile consisting of twice as |
| cholesterol. They tend to increase as we age and are | | | | many LDL molecules as HDL molecules is considered |
| generally higher in men than women. The biggest | | | | optimal. Any ratio over 4 to 1 is considered to be high |
| factors in unhealthy LDL levels are heredity, being | | | | risk. |
| overweight, an inactive or a sedimentary lifestyle, | | | | |