Cholesterol is our natural friend. There is an abundance of information to know and understand about cholesterol, such as why we need it, how it helps us, how it harms us, what healthy ranges to strive for, and how we can manage our levels. For this article, we will focus on healthy blood levels of cholesterol, and how abnormal levels can impact our health. 

Cholesterol: The Good Guy

Cholesterol is essential to our health. It assists in the production of hormones, such as sex hormones, as well as Vitamin D. It helps our body make cell membranes which produce healthy tissue. Cholesterol assists in providing us with healthy skin and hair. Normal levels of cholesterol also assist the liver in producing bile, which is needed for food digestion.

Cholesterol: The Bad Guy

Having too much cholesterol in our bodies can be very harmful to our health. When too much cholesterol circulates through our body, it builds up in our arteries, clogging them, and making them thick and inflexible. The buildup of cholesterol causes our arteries to harden (plaque); this hardening of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis makes our heart and blood vessels work extra hard when providing circulation of blood through the body. Keeping too much of this guy around for too long can damage our arteries, increasing our risk of heart disease and stroke.   

So, who is this Cholesterol guy exactly?

“Cholesterol is naturally produced by our bodies. It is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, and found in our blood and all the cells of the body.” (National Cancer Institute) Cholesterol is also found in many of the foods we eat, primarily from animals, such as milk/dairy products, eggs, and meats, including some kinds of seafood.

 What makes Cholesterol good or bad?

For this cholesterol guy to move through our bodies it must bind with proteins for proper travel. These proteins and cholesterols together are called lipoproteins. There are several types in our body, but for health management purposes, we will discuss the two main cholesterols here.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known as the “bad cholesterol” because it carries the cholesterol TO your bloodstream, where it goes to work to clog your arteries.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known as the “good cholesterol” because it carries the cholesterol back TO your liver where it can break down. That’s a good thing!   

How can I make these two guys more memorable?

HDL -the H represents healthy cholesterol

LDL- the L represents lousy cholesterol 

How do I know what a good level of cholesterol is for me?

 The best way to measure the level of lipoproteins in our bodies is through blood work called a Lipid Panel (sometimes referred to as Lipid Profile or a Lipoprotein panel). A lipid panel measures:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL ("bad") cholesterol
• HDL ("good") cholesterol
• Triglycerides, another type of fat that causes hardening of the arteries

John Hopkins Medicine provides these ranges for the Lipid Panel.

 Here are the ranges for total cholesterol in adults:

• Normal: Less than 200 mg/dL
• Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL
• High: At or above 240 mg/dL

These are the adult ranges for LDL cholesterol:

• Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL (This is the goal for people with diabetes or heart disease.)
• Near optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL
• Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL
• High: 160 to 189 mg/dL
• Very high: 190 mg/dL and higher

The above numbers are general guidelines because actual goals depend on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.

Your HDL cholesterol levels should be above 40 mg/dL. This fat type is good for you because it lowers your risk of heart disease. The higher the number, the lower your risk. Sixty mg/dL or above is considered the level to protect you against heart disease. Remember, this is the “good guy.”

High levels of triglycerides are linked with a higher heart disease risk. Here are the adult ranges:

• Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
• Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dL
• Very high: Above 500 mg/dL

 Conclusion

In conclusion, cholesterol can be our friend. But too much of this guy can be detrimental to our health. Sometimes, hereditary factors can cause our cholesterol to be elevated. But often it can be corrected, and we can lead a healthy life. Correcting it sooner rather than later is a good goal.

How can it be controlled? Here are a few things we can do to manage it:

• Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Limit drinks and foods that have a lot of fat or sugar
• Get plenty of exercise, at least 30 minutes every day.
• Maintain your weight in a healthy range.
• Manage your stress. (Research has shown that chronic stress can raise your HDL)
• Stop smoking, or don’t start smoking. 
• Occasionally, your healthcare provider may recommend medications, called statins, to manage your cholesterol levels. (MedlinePlus)

Sources

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/lipid-panel

https://medlineplus.gov

https://www.cancer.gov

Joan Strayham, MSN, RN is a freelance Nurse Writer (MS Writer) with more than 40 years of healthcare experience. She also provides public healthcare education through her blog: Just So You Know: Navigating Healthcare Like A Pro

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nursewriter

nursewriter1@gmail.com

Thank you for reading Patient Education Essentials, the Write Shift RN blog.

Disclaimer: This article was written as a guest post for Write Shift RN LLC's blog. The information in it may not be wholly fact-checked or edited, allowing the reader to see the writer's work and skills firsthand. This information is not intended as medical advice. It is for informational and educational purposes only. Always talk to your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers about any questions or concerns you may have regarding medical conditions.