Cholesterol Facts*

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is found in all cells throughout the body and in the blood.  Cholesterol is essential to life and is needed by your body to produce cell membranes and various hormones.  But, cholesterol can not dissolve in the blood.  It must "go somewhere" - whether that's going into the cells or back to the liver, or being transformed into plaque.

Where does cholesterol come from?

Cholesterol comes from 2 sources.  About 75% of it is produced by the liver.  The other 25% comes from the food we eat.  The amount of cholesterol in any particular person's body will vary greatly depending on their diet, how much exercise they get, genetics, and a host of complex factors related to biochemistry.

What is the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol?

Cholesterol must be transported in the body via cells called lipoproteins.  HDL actually stands for High Density Lipoprotein.  Conversely, LDL stands for Low Density Lipoprotein.  HDL cholesterol is considered the good form in that it helps to clean up our arteries by transporting the LDL cholesterol back to the liver to be removed from the body.  The more HDL cholesterol you have, the better.  Research has shown higher levels of HDL cholesterol will lower your risk of heart disease. 

LDL cholesterol is often called "bad cholesterol", but this is a big misnomer.  LDL cholesterol is essential to the body and is not bad in and of itself.  It only becomes "bad" when it becomes oxidized by either 1) excessive free radical molecules in your arterial wall lining, or 2) homocysteine - a byproduct produced by your body when certain foods are metabolized.  Still, high levels of LDL cholesterol are undesirable because this greatly increases the amount of oxidized LDL cholesterol, which can then turn into plaque deposits in your arteries.  LDL cholesterol CAN be too low, so you want to keep it in a healthy range (see below for more information).

What are Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are a "storage" form of fat cell in the blood.  Elevated triglyceride levels are often caused by factors such as lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, eating a lot of processed carbohydrates, and general obesity.  Many people who have high triglyceride levels, also have low HDL (good) cholesterol - a bad combination.  High triglycerides are definitely considered to be a risk factor for heart disease, so you want to try and lower your level.

What are considered healthy levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and Total cholesterol?

There is some disagreement on these numbers, but here are where most health experts feel you want to be at:

LDL cholesterol:  less than 200 mg/dL  (Again, it is possible for your cholesterol to be too low.  You should always consult with your doctor about your cholesterol levels to find what is healthy for YOU.)

HDL cholesterol:  At least 40 for men and 45 for women, but higher is always better here.  Strive for 50 or better.

Triglycerides:  You want to strive for less than 150 mg/dL.  If you can get them down to 100, that is much better.

Total Cholesterol: You want this lower than 200, preferably down closer to 170. 

How can I find out what my cholesterol level is?

The best way is to arrange through your doctor to have a blood test done through a lab service.  Most hospitals have a lab on site.  But, some doctors offices have the ability to do the test in-house.  There ARE home test kits available, but they typically will not give you the breakdown between LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, and Total Cholesterol.  Usually, lab tests done through your doctor are covered my most insurance plans. 

Can I tell if I have high cholesterol without having a blood test?

No.  High cholesterol has no obvious symptoms that you can feel.  There's no warning signs.  That's why you must have it measured and take action if any of your cholesterol numbers are in the unhealthy range. 

How does high cholesterol cause a problem?

Having high cholesterol by itself does not cause health problems. It's when the cholesterol transforms into arterial plaque, causing hardening of the artery walls and restricted blood flow that the real problems form.  This is a disease called artherosclerosis. 

Is there some way to permanently lower my cholesterol?

No.  You need to continually work at keeping it low through exercise, eating a healthy diet low in highly processed foods and high in fruits/vegetables, moderate lifestyle choices, keeping your weight at a healthy level, nutritional supplementation, and possibly drugs (depending on advice from your doctor).