Normal Cholesterol Levels
If you are an older American over the age of 40 there is no doubt that your doctor has talked to you about your normal cholesterol levels. It is important for everyone regardless of age, to know more about these levels to take better care of their health.
Cholesterol is a fat that is present in the body that doesn't dissolve in the blood very easily. It is a very important part of the body and how it works so the total elimination of it isn't what needs to be done. There are several good things that cholesterol does. For instance:
- Cholesterol builds cells in the body so each cell needs its production.
- Cholesterol helps you keep water from leaving your body too quickly.
- Cholesterol is the base of hormones that your adrenal glands produce.
- It helps your body make vitamin D.
Therefore you need some cholesterol in your body to help with your overall function. The point of looking at your normal cholesterol levels is to keep the cholesterol balanced so your arteries and other organs will stay healthy.
Everyone has heard about the two different cholesterols in the body. They know that HDL is the good kind and it helps cholesterol liquid and move through the body safely. This type hangs on to bad cholesterol and takes it out of the body. Under normal circumstances, it can also unstick some of the cholesterol that has already attached itself to your arteries. The LDL cholesterol on the other hand can cause damage to your artery walls and trap the cholesterol so it will deposit minerals and fats which will eventually block the arteries.
When your doctor takes a cholesterol count (does a lipid panel) they are checking to see how balanced the ratio is and then how balanced your overall numbers are so they can predict how healthy your arteries are currently.
Normal cholesterol levels are as follows:
- The overall level should be 135 - 200 mg/dl.
- LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) should be less than 130 mg/dl.
- HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) should be greater than 30 mg/dl.
- The ratio of total cholesterol / HDL cholesterol should be 4.0 – 6.0 (for males) and 3.7 – 5.7 (for females).
Your doctor will explain all of this to you after they receive your blood work back from the labs. When your cholesterol is higher than these levels, your doctor will help you decide on a way to lower them so that you can decrease your risk for heart disease.
It is important for you as a consumer to understand what these numbers mean to you and how your cholesterol is working to improve your life. Without this knowledge you are at the whim of the doctor and this may not be to your best interest.
The more you now about your health the better you can stay healthy and have more opportunities with your family and friends.