Cholesterol: the bane of millions of overeaters across America. High blood cholesterol can lead to plaque deposits that increase a person's risk of heart attacks and strokes. Although cholesterol in itself is a natural compound the body requires, an oversupply of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is harmful if not treated by appropriate diet modification, exercise and possibly cholesterol-lowering drugs to stay within the cholesterol guidelines.
Cholesterol Levels
Doctors recommend that a person's total blood-cholesterol level be less than 200 mg/dL. Total cholesterol is considered high if it is above 240 mg/dL and "borderline high" if between 200 and 239 mg/dL. LDL (bad) cholesterol is optimal if below 70 mg/dL and high if over 160 mg/dL. HDL (good) cholesterol is best if 60 mg/dL or higher, and poor if below 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women.
Cholesterol Ratio
Some physicians use a cholesterol ratio instead of a total cholesterol count; this is calculated by dividing the HDL value into total cholesterol. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1, with an optimum ratio of 3.5:1. Some groups, including the American Heart Association, recommend against using the ratio and instead focus on HDL and total cholesterol levels separately.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a form of fat in the blood made in the body. It is desirable that they be below 150 mg/dL; it is considered high if they are above 200 mg/dL and very high if they are above 500 mg/dL. Triglycerides are generally a function of poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle, and are an indicator about whether the blood-cholesterol levels are lifestyle-related or are affected by genetic tendencies.
Treatment
Standard treatment for patients whose blood cholesterol levels exceed the recommended values is threefold: diet modification, exercise and drugs, including statins. A diet low in saturated fats, mixed with an exercise program that includes recommended levels of aerobic exercise, is the first line of defense; for patients whose values remain high despite behavior changes, a host of cholesterol-lowering drugs may be prescribed.
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