High Cholesterol Level Risks

All About High Cholesterol Rick Numbers

When it comes to high cholesterol risks, it’s tough to keep the details straight. We might have a vague idea of whether our cholesterol is good or bad., but we forget the actual numbers by the time we get to the parking lot outside our doctor’s office. So it may be worth reviewing the basics.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance circulating in your blood. Some of your cholesterol comes from the foods you eat. But the bulk of it is actually made in your own body, specifically in the liver. Cholesterol does have some good uses. It helps produce new cells and some hormones. But an excess of it in the bloodstream can lead to trouble.

There are two types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL

LDL is also called ‘bad cholesterol’. LDL can clog your arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Most people should aim for a level of less than 3.5 mmol/L. However, people who already have heart disease may need to aim for under 3 mmol/L.

HDL is ‘good cholesterol’. This type of cholesterol attaches to bad cholesterol and brings it to the liver, where it’s filtered out of the body. So HDL cholesterol reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in your system. You should aim for 3 mmol/L or higher.

Triglycerides are not cholesterol but another type of fat floating in your blood. Just as with bad cholesterol, having a high level of triglycerides increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. Aim for a level of less than 2 mmol/L.

So although we all talk about high cholesterol risks, the term is a little misleading. What we really mean is high levels of LDL and triglycerides and a low level of HDL.

What about total cholesterol, which is the sum of your LDL and HDL? While anything under 5.2 mmol/L is still considered the target, most expert don’t focus on the number. It doesn’t mean all that much.