Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body and is necessary for the body to function normally. The body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that help digest fat. Only a small amount of cholesterol is needed to meet these needs. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream can be harmful and lead to arteriosclerosis, a condition in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the walls of the arteries, including the coronary arteries feeding the heart.
In time, the arteries narrow and symptoms of CHD appear, including angina and heart attacks. It is currently recommended that your total cholesterol level be less than 200mg/dl. Some new guidelines consider cholesterol levels of no more than 180 to be optimal.
Cholesterol travels in the blood in packages called lipoproteins. Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) are the “bad” cholesterol since they carry most of the cholesterol in the blood which is the main source of buildup that damages and blocks the arteries. The more LDL-cholesterol you have, the greater the risk of CHD. If your LDL is higher than 130mg/dl, your cholesterol is probably too high.
High Density Lipoproteins (HDLs) are the “good” cholesterol, as they carry cholesterol in the blood from other parts in the body to the liver, which leads to removal of cholesterol from the body. HDLs help cholesterol from building up in the arterial walls. If your level of HDL-cholesterol is below 35mg/dl, you are at risk for CHD. The higher your HDL-cholesterol the better. The average HDL-cholesterol for men is about 45 mg/dl, and for women 55 mg/dl.
Triglycerides are a form of fat carried in the bloodstream. Most of your body’s fat in the form of triglycerides is stored in fat tissue. Only a small segment of triglycerides is in the bloodstream. High triglyceride levels alone do not cause atherosclerosis. However, lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides also contain cholesterol, which causes atherosclerosis in some people with high triglycerides.
Read Cholesterol news articles and watch Video...
Physician said her cholesterol is below the 200 normal range
Should she take some diet steps to reduce is or not? FYI she is not fat at all.
In time, the arteries narrow and symptoms of CHD appear, including angina and heart attacks. It is currently recommended that your total cholesterol level be less than 200mg/dl. Some new guidelines consider cholesterol levels of no more than 180 to be optimal.
Cholesterol travels in the blood in packages called lipoproteins. Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) are the “bad” cholesterol since they carry most of the cholesterol in the blood which is the main source of buildup that damages and blocks the arteries. The more LDL-cholesterol you have, the greater the risk of CHD. If your LDL is higher than 130mg/dl, your cholesterol is probably too high.
High Density Lipoproteins (HDLs) are the “good” cholesterol, as they carry cholesterol in the blood from other parts in the body to the liver, which leads to removal of cholesterol from the body. HDLs help cholesterol from building up in the arterial walls. If your level of HDL-cholesterol is below 35mg/dl, you are at risk for CHD. The higher your HDL-cholesterol the better. The average HDL-cholesterol for men is about 45 mg/dl, and for women 55 mg/dl.
Triglycerides are a form of fat carried in the bloodstream. Most of your body’s fat in the form of triglycerides is stored in fat tissue. Only a small segment of triglycerides is in the bloodstream. High triglyceride levels alone do not cause atherosclerosis. However, lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides also contain cholesterol, which causes atherosclerosis in some people with high triglycerides.
Read Cholesterol news articles and watch Video...
Physician said her cholesterol is below the 200 normal range
Should she take some diet steps to reduce is or not? FYI she is not fat at all.