Cholesterol: Know Your Numbers, Know Your Risk!

  • Published
  • By Brian K. Todd
  • 97th AMW health educator
ALTUS AFB --  Did you ever go to the doctor for lab work and have no idea what they tested, why they tested, or what your results meant when you received them? Most likely, we all have had some confusion over lab reports at one time or another. Often times we hear a lot of talk about LDL, HDL, VLDL and the importance of knowing your cholesterol number. What's that all about? Well, let's try to shed some light on this subject.

Many people know that they need to monitor their cholesterol, but they may not be aware of the role that it plays in the body. Cholesterol is not something to completely dislike. In fact, your body uses it to create cell walls and hormones. However, people with high levels of cholesterol in the blood have a higher chance of developing coronary heart disease.

When an individual has too much blood cholesterol, the excess attaches itself to the walls of vessels circulating throughout the body. Cholesterol deposits can obstruct the coronary arteries, leading to heart disease. High blood cholesterol is linked to about one-third of all deaths in middle age. Hopefully you will not become part of this statistic.

Cholesterol is found in three forms within your body: LDL, HDL, and VLDL. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is sometimes known as "lethal" cholesterol because it is the bad stuff that can form on the walls of your arteries. You do not want too much of this in your blood.

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is a beneficial form of cholesterol that actually helps break down and recycle LDL particles. Sometimes known as "healthy" cholesterol, this is the form of cholesterol you actually do want.

Very low-density lipoprotein, VLDL, carries fats (triglycerides) to your body cells. When your triglyceride level is assessed, your VLDL level is also measured. VLDL can also be considered another bad cholesterol because it contains the highest level of triglyceride.

Your total cholesterol is the sum of all the components listed above. Often, when a doctor or technician refers to your cholesterol level, he/she is referring to total cholesterol. Total cholesterol is used as an indicator of heart disease risk. In most cases, the higher your total cholesterol, the higher your risk for heart disease.

At this point you may be asking, "Just how much cholesterol is okay?" The American Heart Association makes the following recommendations: total cholesterol below 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter), HDL at least 35 mg/dl, and LDL no more than 130 mg/dl. If you can get your numbers right at these guidelines, your risks decrease substantially. Talk with a healthcare specialist about ways that you may improve your blood cholesterol. Your heart will thank you for it.

For questions, comments or more information related to this article, please contact the HAWC at 481-5013.