Cholesterol Info
hibbler22
Posts: 339 Member
Cholesterol
We often hear the word cholesterol or the terms good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. I want you to finally have a true understanding of what these words mean and why they are so important to your health.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in the blood and in all parts of the body. Cholesterol is extremely important for our health, because the body needs it to function properly. We use it to form hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts, which help the body digest the fat that we eat. Cholesterol plays a role in our brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. However, if we have too much cholesterol in the blood—hypercholesterolemia—it can lead to plaque forming on the internal walls of the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. This means the space inside of our arteries where the blood flows through becomes narrow because of the plaque and prevents the proper amount of blood from reaching the places it needs to go. When this happens in the arteries of the heart—coronary arteries—one develops heart disease and experiences things such as chest pain (angina) and heart attack.
Bad Cholesterol
There are two major types of cholesterol: bad cholesterol and good cholesterol. The bad cholesterol is called LDL (low-density lipoprotein). We need LDL to carry cholesterol in the blood, but if there’s too much, it slowly builds up in the walls of the arteries that go to the heart and brain. This build up of LDL and other substances is what forms the plaque that narrows the internal space of the arteries and causes problems. The lower our LDL is, the lower our risk of heart disease.
Good Cholesterol
The good cholesterol is called HDL (high-density lipoprotein). HDL serves the important function of carrying cholesterol AWAY from the arteries and to the liver where it’s passed from the body. In other words, HDL helps our body get rid of extra cholesterol that might cause harm. The higher our HDL is, the lower our risk of heart disease.
Factors that Affect Your Cholesterol Level
Food
There are two major nutrients in foods that make the LDL level go up—saturated fat and cholesterol. When we eat too much saturated fat and cholesterol, we dramatically increase our risk of heart attack.
Tobacco
Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels and increases the tendency for blood to clot.
Physical Activity
In some people, regular physical activity will increase their HDL cholesterol. At the same time, this regular physical activity may decrease the LDL cholesterol level. Brisk walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, and kickboxing are just some of the physical activities that can provide benefits to your heart and lungs.
Weight
Excess weight can actually raise LDL cholesterol. Thus, losing weight can be extremely important for those who already have high LDL levels. Weight loss can also help raise HDL.
Stress
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, several studies have shown that stress over the long term can raise blood cholesterol levels.
Heredity
Certain genes in our DNA that we’re born with, and have no control over, can affect our LDL cholesterol level. 1 in 500 people suffer from a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia in which they inherit genes that lead to high cholesterol. Even if a person participates in healthy behaviors, those with this genetic disorder still have high cholesterol and must be treated urgently.
How to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level
Eat fewer foods that contain saturated fat and cholesterol
Stop smoking
Increase physical activity
Lose weight
Lower stress
Take cholesterol-lowering medications if prescribed by your doctor
Understanding Your Cholesterol Levels
From the American Heart Association
Your total blood cholesterol level
Your total blood cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:
Desirable Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high risk 200–239 mg/dL
High risk 240 mg/dL and over
Desirable
If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, your heart attack risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors. Even with a low risk, it's still smart to eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and to get plenty of physical activity. Have your cholesterol levels measured every five years — or more often if you're a man over 45 or a woman over 55.
Borderline high risk
People whose cholesterol level is from 200 to 239 mg/dL are borderline high risk. About a third of American adults are in this (borderline) group; almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL.
Have your cholesterol and HDL rechecked in one to two years if:
Your total cholesterol is in this range.
Your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL.
You don’t have other risk factors for heart disease.
You should also lower your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol to reduce your blood cholesterol level to below 200 mg/dL. Your doctor may order another blood test to measure your LDL cholesterol. Ask them to discuss your LDL cholesterol with you. Even if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 mg/dL, you may not be at high risk for a heart attack. Some people — such as women before menopause and young, active men who have no other risk factors — may have high HDL cholesterol and desirable LDL levels. Ask your doctor to interpret your results. Everyone's case is different.
High risk
If your total cholesterol level is 240 or more, it's definitely high. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is greater. In general, people who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL.
Ask your doctor for advice and additional tests. About 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels.
LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dL
Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL
Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL
Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL
High
190 mg/dL and above
Very High
Your HDL cholesterol level
In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol that's less than 40 mg/dL is low. Low HDL cholesterol puts you at high risk for heart disease. Smoking, being overweight, and a sedentary activity level can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. If you have low HDL cholesterol, you can help raise it by:
Not smoking
Losing weight (or maintaining a healthy weight)
Being physically active for at least 30–60 minutes a day on most or all days of the week
We often hear the word cholesterol or the terms good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. I want you to finally have a true understanding of what these words mean and why they are so important to your health.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in the blood and in all parts of the body. Cholesterol is extremely important for our health, because the body needs it to function properly. We use it to form hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts, which help the body digest the fat that we eat. Cholesterol plays a role in our brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. However, if we have too much cholesterol in the blood—hypercholesterolemia—it can lead to plaque forming on the internal walls of the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. This means the space inside of our arteries where the blood flows through becomes narrow because of the plaque and prevents the proper amount of blood from reaching the places it needs to go. When this happens in the arteries of the heart—coronary arteries—one develops heart disease and experiences things such as chest pain (angina) and heart attack.
Bad Cholesterol
There are two major types of cholesterol: bad cholesterol and good cholesterol. The bad cholesterol is called LDL (low-density lipoprotein). We need LDL to carry cholesterol in the blood, but if there’s too much, it slowly builds up in the walls of the arteries that go to the heart and brain. This build up of LDL and other substances is what forms the plaque that narrows the internal space of the arteries and causes problems. The lower our LDL is, the lower our risk of heart disease.
Good Cholesterol
The good cholesterol is called HDL (high-density lipoprotein). HDL serves the important function of carrying cholesterol AWAY from the arteries and to the liver where it’s passed from the body. In other words, HDL helps our body get rid of extra cholesterol that might cause harm. The higher our HDL is, the lower our risk of heart disease.
Factors that Affect Your Cholesterol Level
Food
There are two major nutrients in foods that make the LDL level go up—saturated fat and cholesterol. When we eat too much saturated fat and cholesterol, we dramatically increase our risk of heart attack.
Tobacco
Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels and increases the tendency for blood to clot.
Physical Activity
In some people, regular physical activity will increase their HDL cholesterol. At the same time, this regular physical activity may decrease the LDL cholesterol level. Brisk walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, and kickboxing are just some of the physical activities that can provide benefits to your heart and lungs.
Weight
Excess weight can actually raise LDL cholesterol. Thus, losing weight can be extremely important for those who already have high LDL levels. Weight loss can also help raise HDL.
Stress
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, several studies have shown that stress over the long term can raise blood cholesterol levels.
Heredity
Certain genes in our DNA that we’re born with, and have no control over, can affect our LDL cholesterol level. 1 in 500 people suffer from a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia in which they inherit genes that lead to high cholesterol. Even if a person participates in healthy behaviors, those with this genetic disorder still have high cholesterol and must be treated urgently.
How to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level
Eat fewer foods that contain saturated fat and cholesterol
Stop smoking
Increase physical activity
Lose weight
Lower stress
Take cholesterol-lowering medications if prescribed by your doctor
Understanding Your Cholesterol Levels
From the American Heart Association
Your total blood cholesterol level
Your total blood cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:
Desirable Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high risk 200–239 mg/dL
High risk 240 mg/dL and over
Desirable
If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, your heart attack risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors. Even with a low risk, it's still smart to eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and to get plenty of physical activity. Have your cholesterol levels measured every five years — or more often if you're a man over 45 or a woman over 55.
Borderline high risk
People whose cholesterol level is from 200 to 239 mg/dL are borderline high risk. About a third of American adults are in this (borderline) group; almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL.
Have your cholesterol and HDL rechecked in one to two years if:
Your total cholesterol is in this range.
Your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL.
You don’t have other risk factors for heart disease.
You should also lower your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol to reduce your blood cholesterol level to below 200 mg/dL. Your doctor may order another blood test to measure your LDL cholesterol. Ask them to discuss your LDL cholesterol with you. Even if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 mg/dL, you may not be at high risk for a heart attack. Some people — such as women before menopause and young, active men who have no other risk factors — may have high HDL cholesterol and desirable LDL levels. Ask your doctor to interpret your results. Everyone's case is different.
High risk
If your total cholesterol level is 240 or more, it's definitely high. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is greater. In general, people who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL.
Ask your doctor for advice and additional tests. About 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels.
LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dL
Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL
Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL
Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL
High
190 mg/dL and above
Very High
Your HDL cholesterol level
In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol that's less than 40 mg/dL is low. Low HDL cholesterol puts you at high risk for heart disease. Smoking, being overweight, and a sedentary activity level can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. If you have low HDL cholesterol, you can help raise it by:
Not smoking
Losing weight (or maintaining a healthy weight)
Being physically active for at least 30–60 minutes a day on most or all days of the week
0
Replies
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Cholesterol
We often hear the word cholesterol or the terms good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. I want you to finally have a true understanding of what these words mean and why they are so important to your health.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in the blood and in all parts of the body. Cholesterol is extremely important for our health, because the body needs it to function properly. We use it to form hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts, which help the body digest the fat that we eat. Cholesterol plays a role in our brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. However, if we have too much cholesterol in the blood—hypercholesterolemia—it can lead to plaque forming on the internal walls of the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. This means the space inside of our arteries where the blood flows through becomes narrow because of the plaque and prevents the proper amount of blood from reaching the places it needs to go. When this happens in the arteries of the heart—coronary arteries—one develops heart disease and experiences things such as chest pain (angina) and heart attack.
Bad Cholesterol
There are two major types of cholesterol: bad cholesterol and good cholesterol. The bad cholesterol is called LDL (low-density lipoprotein). We need LDL to carry cholesterol in the blood, but if there’s too much, it slowly builds up in the walls of the arteries that go to the heart and brain. This build up of LDL and other substances is what forms the plaque that narrows the internal space of the arteries and causes problems. The lower our LDL is, the lower our risk of heart disease.
Good Cholesterol
The good cholesterol is called HDL (high-density lipoprotein). HDL serves the important function of carrying cholesterol AWAY from the arteries and to the liver where it’s passed from the body. In other words, HDL helps our body get rid of extra cholesterol that might cause harm. The higher our HDL is, the lower our risk of heart disease.
Factors that Affect Your Cholesterol Level
Food
There are two major nutrients in foods that make the LDL level go up—saturated fat and cholesterol. When we eat too much saturated fat and cholesterol, we dramatically increase our risk of heart attack.
Tobacco
Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels and increases the tendency for blood to clot.
Physical Activity
In some people, regular physical activity will increase their HDL cholesterol. At the same time, this regular physical activity may decrease the LDL cholesterol level. Brisk walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, and kickboxing are just some of the physical activities that can provide benefits to your heart and lungs.
Weight
Excess weight can actually raise LDL cholesterol. Thus, losing weight can be extremely important for those who already have high LDL levels. Weight loss can also help raise HDL.
Stress
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, several studies have shown that stress over the long term can raise blood cholesterol levels.
Heredity
Certain genes in our DNA that we’re born with, and have no control over, can affect our LDL cholesterol level. 1 in 500 people suffer from a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia in which they inherit genes that lead to high cholesterol. Even if a person participates in healthy behaviors, those with this genetic disorder still have high cholesterol and must be treated urgently.
How to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level
Eat fewer foods that contain saturated fat and cholesterol
Stop smoking
Increase physical activity
Lose weight
Lower stress
Take cholesterol-lowering medications if prescribed by your doctor
Understanding Your Cholesterol Levels
From the American Heart Association
Your total blood cholesterol level
Your total blood cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:
Desirable Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high risk 200–239 mg/dL
High risk 240 mg/dL and over
Desirable
If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, your heart attack risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors. Even with a low risk, it's still smart to eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and to get plenty of physical activity. Have your cholesterol levels measured every five years — or more often if you're a man over 45 or a woman over 55.
Borderline high risk
People whose cholesterol level is from 200 to 239 mg/dL are borderline high risk. About a third of American adults are in this (borderline) group; almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL.
Have your cholesterol and HDL rechecked in one to two years if:
Your total cholesterol is in this range.
Your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL.
You don’t have other risk factors for heart disease.
You should also lower your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol to reduce your blood cholesterol level to below 200 mg/dL. Your doctor may order another blood test to measure your LDL cholesterol. Ask them to discuss your LDL cholesterol with you. Even if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 mg/dL, you may not be at high risk for a heart attack. Some people — such as women before menopause and young, active men who have no other risk factors — may have high HDL cholesterol and desirable LDL levels. Ask your doctor to interpret your results. Everyone's case is different.
High risk
If your total cholesterol level is 240 or more, it's definitely high. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is greater. In general, people who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL.
Ask your doctor for advice and additional tests. About 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels.
LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dL
Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL
Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL
Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL
High
190 mg/dL and above
Very High
Your HDL cholesterol level
In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol that's less than 40 mg/dL is low. Low HDL cholesterol puts you at high risk for heart disease. Smoking, being overweight, and a sedentary activity level can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. If you have low HDL cholesterol, you can help raise it by:
Not smoking
Losing weight (or maintaining a healthy weight)
Being physically active for at least 30–60 minutes a day on most or all days of the week0 -
I think heredity is the biggest determining factor. I weigh 391 and weighed 535 at my highest and have always had cholesterol in the 150-161 range total count. My triglycerides were 55 last time I had a physical(last March). Granted I eat a pretty good diet even when I eat too much it is pretty whole and balanced. My dad weighed 690 and ate all unhealthy fat laden foods and never had problems with cholesterol. On the other hand my sister by a different mother, his daughter has a total cholesterol of over 300 and is on 2 medications and both of her sons were born with high totals and bad percentages. I wish they could find a way to bring it down I worry for the health of my nephews and sister every day. :frown:0
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yes they need to lower their cholesterol quick! Just making some small changes can help. Walking a few times a week and change some eating habits.0
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The boys are both in ROTC and are very active and on medication. I think they could make some dent through dietary changes but I don't think it can be lowered significantly. My sis has tried everything but nothing helps. Maybe scientists will find something soon. I am just glad I do not have her Mom's genes.
Amy
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Online Calorie Counter0
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