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Home : Your Physical Health : So You Have High Blood Cholesterol...
So You Have High Blood Cholesterol...
From the National Institutes of Health
What Your Blood Cholesterol Levels Mean
Now that you know the basics, lets take a closer look at blood cholesterol levels and their relationship to heart disease risk. Since the risks are greater for people who already have heart disease, this section is divided into two parts:
- The first part deals with people who don't have heart disease now. This means if you have never had any of the problems listed under "Signs of Coronary Heart Disease."
- If you have ever had any of the problems listed under "Signs of Coronary Heart Disease," the second part of this article will help.
Signs of Coronary Heart Disease
- Have ever had a heart attack.
- Suffer from chest pain which has been diagnosed as angina.
- Have had heart surgery such as a bypass operation, balloon, or angioplasty procedure.
- Have ever been told by your doctor that you have a buildup or blockage in any of your arteries.
What Your Blood Cholesterol Levels Mean...
If You Do Not Have Heart Disease
"Why Should I Worry? I've
never been sick a day in my life."
Even if you dont now have any signs of heart disease, it doesn't
mean you never will. Now is the best time for prevention. Otherwise, a
high blood cholesterol level, as well as other risk factors, can lead
to problems in the future. |
Your Blood Cholesterol Tests
Blood cholesterol levels are measured in a small blood sample taken
from your finger or your arm. The blood is tested for total
cholesterol and, if accurate results can be obtained, HDL- cholesterol
levels. You do not have to fast or do anything special before having
this blood test. Depending on the results, you may also need a second
blood test, a lipoprotein profile, to determine your LDL-cholesterol
level; you do have to fast for this test. An LDL-cholesterol level
gives the doctor more information about your risk of heart disease and
helps to guide any necessary treatment.
Check Your Level
After the test, compare your results with
the levels listed in the chart below. Refer to the table below to see
what your next steps should be.
|
| Classification: Total and HDL-Cholesterol* |
| Total
Cholesterol |
Desirable Blood
Cholesterol |
Borderline-High
Blood
Cholesterol |
High Blood
Cholesterol |
| less than 220 mg/dL |
200-239 mg/dL |
240 mg/dL and above |
| HDL-Cholesterol |
|
|
Low HDL-Cholesterol |
| |
|
Less than 35 mg/dL |
*For anyone 20 years of age or older
| Your Next Steps |
|
If You Do Not Have Heart
Disease |
| If
Your Total and HDL Levels are... |
|
Then... |
Total Cholesterol |
HDL-Cholesterol |
|
|
|
|
| less than 200 mg/dL |
35 mg/dL or greater |
|
You are doing well and should have your total and
HDL- cholesterol levels checked again in about 5 years. In the
meantime, take steps to keep your total cholesterol level down: eat
foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, maintain a healthy
weight, and be physically active. The last two steps, along with not
smoking, will also help keep your HDL level up. |
|
| less than 200 mg/dL or 200-239 mg/dL |
Less than 35 mg/dL |
|
You will need lipoprotein profile to find out your
LDL- cholesterol level. For this test you need to fast for 9-12
hours before the test. have nothing but water, or coffee or tea with
no cream or sugar. |
|
| 200-239 mg/dL |
35 mg/dL or greater |
|
Your doctor will see if you have other risk factors
for heart disease and determine whether more tests (including a
lipoprotein profile to find out your LDL-cholesterol) need to be
done. No matter what your sick is, it is important to eat foods low
in saturated fat and cholesterol, to maintain a healthy diet. |
|
| 240 mg/dL and above |
any level |
|
You will need a lipoprotein profile to find out
your LDL- cholesterol level. Again, you need to fast for 9-12 hours
before the test, having nothing but water, or coffee or tea with no
cream or sugar. |
|
What Your LDL-Cholesterol
Levels Mean
A high LDL-cholesterol level increases
your risk for heart disease. Use the chart below to find out about your
risks and your next steps. |
|
| Classification: LDL-Cholesterol |
|
| Desirable |
Borderline-High Risk |
High Risk |
| less than 130 mg/dL |
130-159 mg/dL |
160 mg/dL and above |
|
|
Your Next Steps
|
If you Do Not Have
Heart Disease
|
| If
Your LDL Level is... |
Then... |
| less than 130 mg/dL |
You have a desirable LDL-cholesterol
level. You will need to have your total and HDL-cholesterol levels
tested again in 5 years. You should follow an eating plan low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, be
physically active, and not smoke. |
|
| 130 mg/dL or above |
Your doctor will look at your other
heart disease risk factors and decide what you need to do to lower
your LDL-cholesterol level. The higher your level and the more other
risk factors you have, the more you need to follow a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol. For example, if your LDL is 160 mg/dL
or greater and you have fewer than two other risk factors, your LDL
goal is a level below 160 mg/dL. If your LDL is 130 mg/dL or greater
and you have two or more other risk factors, your goal is to reduce
your LDL level to below 130 mg/dL. It is also important to lose
weight if you are overweight, to be physically active, and to not
smoke. discuss your treatment plan with your doctor. |
|
Profile
Jack Williams Story
Risk Factors
Jack is 35 years old, and his father
died from a heart attack at the age of 50. Jack smokes about half
a pack of cigarettes a day. His diet is high in saturated fat,
cholesterol and calories. He is not physically active. His doctor
ordered a lipoprotein analysis, and the results are shown below:
|
Lab Report
| Total cholesterol |
260 mg/dL |
| HDL-cholesterol |
40 mg/dL |
| LDL |
190 mg/dL |
|
|
Evaluation
Jack is at
a high risk for heart disease.
Heres why:
--He
has a family history of early death from heart disease.
--He
smokes.
--His
total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels are high.
--He
is physically inactive.
|
|
Reducing Risk
The doctor identified Jack as being
at a high risk for heart disease. She advised him to stop smoking.
Jack had tried to stop on his own, but never quit for more than a
few weeks. This time, he enrolled in a program at work that
charges him for each class. But if he stops smoking, he will get
his money back. His health insurance premium also will go down.
The doctor wanted Jack to focus on giving up smoking. She said
that changes in his eating and activity could wait. However, she
told him to eat fewer fried foods and more breads, fruits, and
vegetables. She said he should get at least some physical activity
and suggested that he part further away when shopping at the
store, work in his garden, and use the stairs more often.
Two months later, Jack had quit smoking. But he still attended
the smoking classes so that he wouldn't start again. The doctor
said he was ready to start a Step I diet to improve his blood
cholesterol levels, and she told him how to follow it. If Jack had
high blood pressure, he would have been advised to follow a
low-sodium Step I diet. The doctor also suggested he try to walk
about 5-10 minutes in the evening after work, a few days a week.
|
|
3 months later his blood cholesterol levels were:
| Lab Report |
3 months ago |
Today |
| Total cholesterol |
260 mg/dL |
224 mg/dL |
| HDL-cholesterol |
40 mg/dL |
45 mg/dL |
| LDL |
190 mg/dL |
149 mg/dL |
|
|
Jack's progress pleased his doctor, but his levels were still
not low enough. The doctor told him to walk briskly for 10-15
minutes three times a week and to add more time each week until he
reached a 30 minute walk. She also put him on a Step II diet and
referred him to a registered dietitian (R.D.) to help him follow
it. After 1 month on the diet, he could follow it at home but not
when eating out. He went back to the dietitian to get more tips to
help him follow the diet when eating out.
After 3 months on the diet, Jack's blood cholesterol levels had
fallen to the desirable range. His wife also liked the diet and
has modified family recipes, as well as tried new ones for the
whole family to enjoy. Now when Jack eats out, he asks about how a
food is cooked to be sure it fits into the diet. His new food
habits have become a part of his way of eating and his family's.
Jack also walks 30 minutes, three or four times a week. He
hasn't smoked a cigarette since joining the class at work, and he
still attends the class once a month. He feels great and has lots
of energy. He plans to stick to his new habits and keep his
cholesterol levels down and reduce his risk of heart disease. |
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