The Difference Between Good And Bad Cholesterol

Can cholesterol ever be good? The answer is, it can!

Cholesterol is a type of fat-like substance in our blood. Our bodies need a small amount of cholesterol for several important biological processes.

When we have too much cholesterol, this fatty, wax-like substance leaves deposits in our arteries. Over time, our arteries slowly get smaller and stiffer, allowing less blood to flow through.

Over time, if enough of the blood flow is blocked, you may suffer chest pain. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to a portion of the heart becomes completely blocked. Heart disease is a leading killer of Americans. Every year, over one million Americans have a heart attack, and more than 500,000 die. Cholesterol can also block the arteries leading to our brains, resulting in a stroke.

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What Is Good And Bad Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is carried through your blood and attached to proteins. Together, the combination of cholesterol and protein is called a lipoprotein (“lipo” is the Greek word for fat). Lipoproteins come in five different versions, but only two kinds are usually mentioned. These are:

Bad Cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – LDL cholesterol is the dangerous type of cholesterol. It transports cholesterol particles throughout your body. If there is too much cholesterol in the circulation, fatty deposits build up in your arteries (arteriosclerosis), leading to heart attacks or strokes.

Good Cholesterol

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – HDL is the good kind of cholesterol. HDL particles pick up extra cholesterol and transport it back to your liver, where it can be removed from your blood and eliminated from your body.

Your cholesterol levels are determined by a mix of lifestyle and genetic factors. Because of genetics, some bodies produce more cholesterol, or have a hard time removing cholesterol from the blood. However, for most people, changing your diet and exercise can lower your numbers safely.

Your Cholesterol Numbers

To evaluate your cholesterol, doctors look at 3 numbers:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol (the bad kind of cholesterol)
• HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol)

Note that in the United States, cholesterol numbers are given as mg/dL, while in Canada and most of Europe, they are recorded as mmol/L.

The cholesterol ranges below are general guidelines only. People of different ethnic backgrounds have different heart disease risk factors, and it’s important to discuss your specific risks with your doctor.

Total Cholesterol

Ideally, your total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL (5.18 mmol/L). Anything over 240 mg/dL (6.216 mmol/L) is considered high, with numbers in between considered borderline high.    

LDL Cholesterol

The ideal range for LDL cholesterol varies, depending on whether you already have heart disease. For those with heart disease, aim for 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) or less, while those without heart disease should aim for less than 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L).

If you have heart disease, 130-159 mg/dL (3.4-4.1 mmol/L) is considered high, while it’s borderline high if you don’t have heart disease. Anything over 160 mg/dL (4.1-4.9 mmol/L) is considered high or very high risk, depending on your other risk factors.

HDL Cholesterol

For men, less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) puts you at risk; 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) or more is desirable. For women, less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) put you at risk; 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) or above is desirable.
 
Improving Your Numbers

Fortunately, the same lifestyle changes that bring down total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol also tend to increase HDL cholesterol. If you’re worried about your cholesterol numbers, limit the amount of saturated fat you consume and eliminate trans fats. Focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Fatty fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which can promote heart health, and should be consumed twice a week. Regular exercise also helps keep cholesterol in check so try to be active for 30 minutes a day.

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Adults should have their cholesterol numbers checked with a simple blood test every four to six years, or more frequently if you have many risk factors.

While we can’t control our genetics or our age, most of the risk factors for bad cholesterol are within our control. If you want to know exactly where you should be focusing your efforts to live a healthier lifestyle check out my free report Top 9 Things You Can Do For Your Health To Help You Live Longer. The choices you make about your lifestyle don’t mean that you and your loved ones have to live shorter lives.