Understanding & Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels
Healthy cholesterol levels are essential for heart health, balancing HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol to reduce the risk of heart disease. Maintaining optimal levels through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle choices helps support overall cardiovascular well-being.
What is a Healthy Cholesterol Levels?
Your cholesterol levels indicate how much cholesterol is in your blood. The one metric you want to be high (preferably above 60) is your HDL (or “good”) cholesterol.
Your LDL cholesterol level should be less than 100. You should have less than 200 in total. Discuss with your provider how to control your cholesterol and the implications of your results.
For what reason do my cholesterol levels matter?
Knowing your cholesterol levels is crucial since it indicates your risk of heart disease. One kind of lipid, or fat, essential to numerous bodily processes is cholesterol. However, having too much cholesterol in the blood is bad. It can penetrate the wall of your artery, weaken it, and cause the formation of hardened deposits called atherosclerotic plaque.
Atherosclerosis is the term for this accumulation of plaque. It may result in major issues such as:
- Coronary Artery Disease: Your heart’s blood supply is blocked.
- Blood flow to your arms and legs is obstructed by peripheral artery disease.
- A blocked blood supply to the brain is known as carotid artery disease.
Your blood silently carries cholesterol. And it silently transforms into plaque. It is like someone tiptoeing on a carpet when there is plaque buildup. It may be a while before you see it or recognize its presence. Until a heart attack or stroke occurs, you might not exhibit any symptoms. It’s like wearing high heels on a hardwood floor at that point. And your body has already suffered significant harm as a result.
You may have high cholesterol for many years without ever realizing it. For this reason, it’s critical to have your cholesterol levels checked frequently. Hyperlipidaemia, or excessively high cholesterol, is a warning sign for both you and your healthcare practitioner.
One of the main risk factors for heart disease is excessive cholesterol, which is present in many people. However, you are not limited by your cholesterol levels. However, they can be altered. You have an opportunity to make changes and reach healthy cholesterol levels if you identify high cholesterol early.
My cholesterol levels: what do they mean?
The units used to quantify cholesterol are milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Find out what your ideal cholesterol levels are by speaking with your doctor. Depending on your age, race, blood pressure, weight, family history, and other factors, the ideal levels may change. Here are some broad recommendations, nevertheless, that illustrate the ideal values (levels that are generally healthy).
Which cholesterol levels are measured?
Your physician mostly looks for the following cholesterol levels:
- Cholesterol in total: This represents the total quantity of cholesterol in your blood.
- Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL: This type of cholesterol is considered “bad” because it causes plaque to accumulate in your arteries, which can result in heart attacks and strokes.
- HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is a “good” cholesterol that helps your body eliminate extra cholesterol.
- Triglycerides: This kind of fat can increase your chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
Your physician uses a blood test known as a lipid panel (or lipid profile) to measure your cholesterol levels. Blood will be drawn from a vein in your arm by a healthcare professional and sent to a laboratory for examination. Make sure you adhere strictly to the test preparation guidelines provided by your supplier. A 12-hour fast is probably required beforehand. This entails abstaining from all food and beverages save water.
Your provider will notify you as soon as your results are available. Your electronic medical record may also provide you with access to your results.
What is the cholesterol unit of measurement?
Medical professionals use milligrams of cholesterol per decilitre of blood to quantify cholesterol levels. The acronym is mg/dL. The same units are used by providers to measure your triglycerides.
What cholesterol levels are considered normal?
Your age, race, and the sex you were allocated at birth all affect your normal cholesterol levels.
Normal cholesterol levels by age wise
Normal amounts of cholesterol are displayed in the detail below. The majority of people’s good cholesterol values are taken into account by healthcare providers. Your LDL target might be different if you have heart disease or a lot of risk factors. Your LDL level may be below 70 mg/dL, as advised by your healthcare provider. The results of your tests and their implications for you should therefore be discussed with your provider.
- For ages 19 and under total cholesterol is Less than 170 Less than triglycerides 150 Less than LDL below 110 and HDL Over 45
- 20 years of age and up; male assigned at birth, total cholesterol 125–200 triglycerides Less than 150 LDL Less than 100, and HDL 40 or more
- 20 years of age and over; female assigned at birth total cholesterol 125 to 200 triglycerides Below 150 LDL Below 100 HDL 50 or more
Remember that you want your HDL to be high and your LDL to be low as you go over your results. For you to be protected against heart disease, your HDL should be ideal. Only be higher than 60.
Differences dependent on sex
Regardless of sex, the majority of normal cholesterol levels are the same. However, there is one significant distinction between adults. Your HDL number is that. Those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) require a higher HDL level (at least 50) than those who were assigned male at birth (AMAB) (at least 40), as the accompanying chart illustrates.
What is regarded as elevated cholesterol?
Generally speaking, high cholesterol is defined as having 200 mg/dL or more of total cholesterol. To break down your results, however, companies employ other categories such as “borderline high” and “near optimal.” Your numbers might be simpler to control with dietary and lifestyle adjustments if they are near normal.
Can a person have too high or too low cholesterol?
Your total cholesterol has lower and higher bounds. As low as you can go is preferable. A lower LDL is preferable, according to research. They haven’t established a minimum amount. Your health will improve if your HDL score is higher. Therefore, you cannot have too low LDL or too high HDL.
When is the best time to have my cholesterol checked?
Your doctor will determine how frequently you should have your cholesterol checked. This is dependent upon your:
- Age: As you age, you should have your numbers checked more frequently.
- A close biological relative with a history of heart disease increases your likelihood of developing heart issues as well. A family member with high cholesterol or a history of heart attack or stroke may require more frequent cholesterol testing.
- Heart disease risk factors: You will require cholesterol tests more frequently if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or if you have risk factors for the condition.
- Sex assigned at birth: Compared to those designated female at birth, those assigned male at birth require more regular testing beginning at a younger age.
- Between the ages of 9 and 11, children should get their first test. After that, they ought to be tested every five years. Based on family history, your child’s healthcare practitioner might advise beginning earlier.
- At birth, people are given a male gender.
The age how often should you have a cholesterol test?
- From 20 to 44 every five years.
- From 45 to 65 each two to three years.
- 65 and up Each year.
- People are born with a female assignation.
- The age how often should you have a cholesterol test?
- From 20 to 54 Every five years.
- 55 to 65 years old two to three years.
- 65 and up. Each year.
What influences my cholesterol levels?
Your cholesterol levels can be influenced by several variables. You can change some of them:
- Eat more: Your blood cholesterol level rises when you eat foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The primary issue is saturated fat, although dietary cholesterol also plays a role. Your blood cholesterol level can be lowered by cutting back on saturated fat in your diet. Red meats, full-fat dairy products, chocolate, some baked goods, and processed and deep-fried meals are among the items that are rich in saturated fat.
- Weight: Obesity and being overweight are risk factors for heart disease. They also tend to raise cholesterol.
- Not exercising: A risk factor for heart disease is a lack of physical activity.
- Smoking: Smoking reduces HDL cholesterol. Having a lower HDL level might lead to a higher cholesterol level since HDL aids in the removal of cholesterol from your arteries.
FAQs
How much cholesterol level is OK?
If there are no additional risk factors, your total cholesterol levels should be less than 5.5 mmol/L. Lowering LDL cholesterol levels to less than 2 mmol/L is the goal if you smoke, or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular risk factors.
What is a healthy HDL and LDL level?
Your goal is to have a high HDL (or “good”) cholesterol level, ideally above 60. Your level of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol should be below 100.
What is dangerously high cholesterol?
It is unhealthy to have too much cholesterol (200–239 mg/dL is borderline high, and 240 mg/dL is high) because it can obstruct the artery highways that carry blood throughout your body. Your organs that do not get enough blood from your arteries suffer harm as a result.
What is good cholesterol by age?
Youngsters (0–19 years old): Less than 110 mg/dL.
Adults aged 20 to 65: Less than 70 mg/dL for individuals with a high risk of heart disease; less than 100 mg/dL is ideal.
For those 65 and older, 70–100 mg/dL is recommended for heart health.
What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?
Red wine, soy milk, pomegranate juice, citrus juice, green tea, and plant-based smoothies are some of the finest beverages for controlling cholesterol.
References:
- Professional, C. C. M. (2024b, December 19). Cholesterol levels. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11920-cholesterol-numbers-what-do-they-mean
- National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Cholesterol levels: What you need to know. https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterollevelswhatyouneedtoknow.html