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Cholesterol - Level

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Just like weight, cholesterol level in each person is a figure that has to be taken seriously and taken note of. This determines how healthy you are. A high cholesterol level can lead to coronary heart disease whereas a low cholesterol level results to the body’s inability to function well and properly.

Here are some important notes for you to consider what the healthy levels of cholesterol are.

Remember that the total blood cholesterol level are categorized into three:

- A desirable cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL
This is because the risk of suffering from a coronary heart disease is lower if your cholesterol level is of this figure. But do not be too confident. Case is different if you have a history of CHD. A smart move will be to eat food that has low cholesterol, has saturated fat and has saturated salt. Consult your doctor and have him measure your cholesterol level, regardless of how old you are.

- A borderline high risk cholesterol level is between 200 and 239 mg/dL
One third of adult Americans are categorized in this group, primarily because of their diet. Reduce your cholesterol level by eating food that has low cholesterol, has saturated fat and has saturated salt. Ask your doctor to discuss what is the required cholesterol level for you. Though your cholesterol level may be higher than normal, it does not necessarily mean that you are at risk for a coronary heart disease. Some young women who are at their pre-menopausal stage and active young men may have higher cholesterol levels but that does not conclude to them suffering from coronary heart diseases.

- A high risk cholesterol level is 240 mg/dL and more
A cholesterol level that is 240 or above is really higher than the norm. Suffering from a coronary heart disease leading to attacks and worse, strokes, are greater than most people. Take more cholesterol level tests. Exert more effort in eating the right food and a balanced diet.

Now we move to your LDL cholesterol level. LDL cholesterol level is one of the factors greatly affecting your risk to a CHD. The greater the CHD, the greater the risk. Here is how you gauge it.

- Less than 100 mg/dL is optimal
- Between 100 to 129 mg/dL is near optimal or above optimal
- Between 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high
- Between 160 to 189 mg/dL is high
- 190 mg dL and above is very high


If your CHD level is high, the doctor usual prescribes a diet low in saturated fat and saturated cholesterol. He also advises you to exercise regularly and to maintain an ideal weight which is suitable for your body built.

Another solution is drug therapy. But there are grounds and considerations before one is allowed to do so.
- For people without a history of CHD and with less than two risk factors, their LDL level must be 190 mg/dL or higher. They must decrease it to 160 mg/dL or lower.
- For people without a history of CHD but with two or more than two risk factors, their LDL level must be 160 mg/dL or higher. They must decrease it to 130 mg/dL or lowe.
- For people with a history of CHD, their LDL level must be 130 mg/dL or higher. They must decrease it to 100 mg/dL or lower.

Finally, your HDL cholesterol level. Normally, HDL cholesterol level is between 40 to 50 mg/dL for men and 50 to 60 mg/dL for women. HDL cholesterol that goes lower than 40 mg/dL in both genders is considered to be low. Low HDL cholesterol level means a great risk for heart disease.

Smoking and obesity are factors that lead to low HDL cholesterol. If you have low HDL cholesterol, here is what you can do.
- Stop smoking
- Lose the unwanted pounds
- Exercise regularly. If you can fit in your busy schedule to exercise for 30 minutes to an hour, then that’s good.

Cholesterol level is measured in milligrams per deciliter of your blood. By having an idea what your total blood cholesterol level is, you can then know whether you are at a risk of suffering from coronary heart disease of not. Upon knowing your cholesterol level, you’re also made aware of what your HDL and LDL levels are.

American Heart Association recommends that in order for doctors to get the cholesterol level, they must use the total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol level as the ratio to one another. This is more advantageous for the physician. The ration must be 4:1.

The best advice we can give you is to go to your doctors and have him check your cholesterol level. You will be more at peace when you know.

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