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About It Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of your body. It helps make
cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. Cholesterol comes from two sources:
your body and the foods you eat. Blood cholesterol is made in your liver. Your
liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Dietary cholesterol comes from
animal foods like meats, whole milk dairy foods, egg yolks, poultry, and fish.
Eating too much dietary cholesterol can make your blood cholesterol go up. Foods
from plants, like vegetables, fruits, grains, and cereals, do not have any dietary
cholesterol.
Total and HDL-cholesterol measurements require a blood sample that is taken
from your arm or finger. You do not have to fast for this test. If you have had
your total and HDL-cholesterol checked, check the chart
to see how they measure up.
Blood cholesterol levels of under 200 mg/dL are called "desirable" and put you
at lower risk for heart disease. Any cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or more
increases your risk; over half the adults in the United States have levels of
200 mg/dL or greater. Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL are "borderline-high."
A level of 240 mg/dL or greater is "high" blood cholesterol. A person with this
level has more than twice the risk of heart disease compared to someone whose
cholesterol is 200 mg/dL. About one out of every five American adults has a high
blood cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or greater.
Unlike total cholesterol, the lower your HDL, the higher your risk for heart
disease. An HDL level less than 40 mg/dL increases your risk for heart disease.
The higher your HDL level, the better.
In certain cases, it may be necessary to have your LDL-cholesterol checked, too,
because it is a better predictor of heart disease risk than your total blood
cholesterol. You will need to fast. That means you can have nothing to eat or
drink but water, coffee, or tea, with no cream or sugar, for 9 to 12 hours before
the test.
If your doctor has checked your LDL level, use the chart below to see how it
measures up.
If your LDL-cholesterol level is high or borderline-high and you have other risk
factors for heart disease, your doctor will likely plan a treatment program for
you. Following an eating plan low in saturated fat and cholesterol and increasing
your physical activity is usually the first and main step of treatment. Some
people will also need to take medicine. (If you have high blood cholesterol
and would like more details on what it means and what you should do about it,
contact the NHLBI Information Center.)
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As the world’s top supplier of commercial blood pressure monitors and health management systems, Lifeclinic is committed to helping to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across the globe. Active monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, weight, body fat, body mass index (BMI) and blood oxygen levels when combined with proper diet, nutrition and physical fitness can help ensure a longer, more healthy lifestyle. © 2009 Lifeclinic International, Inc. |
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