High Cholesterol
What is cholesterol? — Cholesterol is a substance that is found in the blood. Everyone has some. It is needed for good health. The problem is, people sometimes have too much cholesterol. Compared with people with normal cholesterol, people with high cholesterol have a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems. The higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk of these problems.
Are there different types of cholesterol? — Yes, there are a few different types. If you get a cholesterol test, you might hear your doctor or nurse talk about:
● Total cholesterol
● LDL cholesterol – Some people call this the ―bad‖ cholesterol. That’s because having high LDL levels raises your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.
● HDL cholesterol – Some people call this the ―good‖ cholesterol. That’s because having high HDL levels lowers your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.
● Non-HDL cholesterol – Non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol.
● Triglycerides – Triglycerides are not cholesterol. They are a type of fat. But they often get measured when cholesterol is measured. (Having high triglycerides also seems to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.)
What should my numbers be? — Ask your doctor or nurse what your numbers should be. Different people need different goals. In general, people who do not already have heart disease should aim for:
● Total cholesterol below 200
● LDL cholesterol below 130 – or much lower, if they are at risk of heart attacks or strokes
● HDL cholesterol above 60
● Non-HDL cholesterol below 160 – or lower, if they are at risk of heart attacks or strokes
● Triglycerides below 150
Keep in mind, though, that many people who cannot meet these goals still have a low risk of heart attacks and strokes.
What should I do if my doctor tells me I have high cholesterol? — Ask your doctor what your overall risk of heart attacks and strokes is. High cholesterol, by itself, is not always a reason to worry. Having high
cholesterol is just one of many things that can increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Other factors that increase your risk include:
● Cigarette smoking
● High blood pressure
● Having a parent, sister, or brother who got heart disease at a young age (Young, in this case, means younger than 55 for men and younger than 65 for women.)
● Being a man (Women are at risk, too, but men have a higher risk.)
● Older age
If you are at high risk of heart attacks and strokes, having high cholesterol is a problem. On the other hand, if you are at low risk, having high cholesterol might not mean much.
Should I take medicine to lower cholesterol? — Not everyone who has high cholesterol needs medicines. Your doctor or nurse will decide if you need them based on your age, family history, and other health concerns.
Can I lower my cholesterol without medicines? — Yes, you can lower your cholesterol some by:
● Avoiding red meat, butter, fried foods, cheese, and other foods that have a lot of saturated fat
● Losing weight (if you are overweight)
● Being more active
Even if these steps do little to change your cholesterol, they can improve your health in many ways.
High Cholesterol
