Cholesterol Levels

To recap, a normal total cholesterol level would be less than 200 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dl) of blood. This will be made up of LDL or “bad” cholesterol which should be maintained at between 100 - 130 mg/dl and “good” cholesterol which should be more than 40 or 50 mg/dl.

There is now medication available to control cholesterol levels but the good news is that one doesn’t have to resort to drugs to improve the lipoid profile (levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood). This advice will help you:

In the last few decades, the most important thing to know has been the total level of cholesterol. 240mg per decilitre (mg/dl) of blood was considered to be normal. But the Framingham study (the most important one of its kind) surprised the world by demonstrating that less than half of the victims of heart attacks had levels lower than this number. Today, it is desirable to have less than 200mg/dl or even 180mg/dl for the maximum reduction of risk.

Heart disease and stroke are often triggered by high cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol for some is just a matter of changing your diet. Others may need to diet and the help of medications prescribed by their doctor. Either way, lowering your cholesterol can save your life.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that is found in every cell of the body. It is involved in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, vitamin D, bile acids, and other tissues in the body. It also insulates nerves. Cholesterol is produced in the liver, but we also get cholesterol from our diet.

We have heard many times from dieticians and doctors that lowering cholesterol is extremely important. Cholesterol is a substance that is waxy and fatty like. This is produced by the liver. The interesting fact is that cholesterol has a purpose and is central to your overall body function and health. Every cell in the body has cholesterol forming in it; at appropriate levels it plays a life support role in many functions of the body.

Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the essential part of the outer membranes of human body cells, and it circulates in the blood.

Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources. About three-quarters of the body’s total cholesterol is produced within the body, while only one-quarter comes from cholesterol in food.

You may not know you have a high level of cholesterol in your blood. The only way to be sure is to have a blood test.

What is cholesterol?