Cholesterol: The Whole Picture

Cholesterol:

All this talk about cholesterol, lipids, and "good" and "bad" can really be confusing! We want to be living healthy, and Cholesterol and fat were things that we thought were always unhealthy, but research has shown that there are different types of it, some that increase the risk of heart disease and some that can protect against it. To check your risk of heart disease, your doctor may order a lipid profile test. This checks the levels of at least four lipid — fat — components in your blood:

• Total cholesterol: This is the total amount of cholesterol that is dispersed within your bloodstream, some of which may offer protection against heart disease, and some of which may increase your risk.
• LDL cholesterol: LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, usually labeled "bad," tends to adhere to the inside of blood vessel walls, building up blockages that can cause a heart attack. You want your LDL level to be low — ideally, less than 100 mg/dl, according to the American Heart Association.
• HDL cholesterol (GOOD): This type of cholesterol is the one many people think of as "good" cholesterol. Instead of sticking to the lining of blood vessels, HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol (the so-called good cholesterol) is brought to the liver to be removed from the body — so it reduces your risk of heart disease. You want your HDL level to be high — at least 60 mg/dl or higher. A low HDL level (less than 40 mg/dl for men; less than 50 mg/dl for women) increases the risk of heart disease.
• Triglycerides: These are fats that are also included in a lipid profile. Although it's not clear whether high triglyceride levels are a risk factor for heart disease by themselves, they usually go hand in hand with other risk factors, such as high total cholesterol or low HDL. If you are obese, inactive, drink a lot of alcohol, or follow a diet very high in carbohydrates, you may have high triglycerides. Your triglyceride level should be less than 150 mg/dl.

Have you gotten your lipid profile report? If not, make an appointment within the next week and commit to getting it done. If you've already gotten the results and your lipid profile is good, that's excellent, but it doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want! You need to continue eating healthfully so those lipid levels can stay great!