What cholesterol levels mean

Hypercholesterolemia is a non communicable disease that is becoming more prevalent due to sedentary life style and high fat diet. Your doctor will order to do a cholesterol profile to see if you are having the disease. Normally, a cholesterol profile gives the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL and VDRL. It also provides the ratio between LDL and HDL.  The American heart Association  has provided normal, desirable and abnormal values for each of these cholesterol types. So, what does each of this cholesterol level mean? To understand this, you should know the cholesterol metabolism  within your body.

Fat is one of the major nutrients that the human body requires. It is recommended that you take 30% of your energy as fat. In the gut, the fats are broken down in to triglycerides and fatty acids. Then they are absorbed in to the gut mucosa. Then these lipids are carried to the liver. Fat cannot be dissolved in the blood. Therefore, certain protein molecules (apolipoproteins) help to carry them to the liver. This fat and protein complexes (lipoproteins) are called VDRL. VDRL stands for Very Low Density Lipoprotein. You will be advised to stay fasting for 10 hours prior to doing the cholesterol test. If you do not stay fasting, the VDRL levels will be higher than the normal level. On the other hand, it will be low if you fast too long.

LDL (low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol is the lipoproteins which transport lipids away from the liver to peripheral tissues. VDRL and LDL cholesterol are elevated in hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, they are called ‘bad cholesterol’. This LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood stream. LDL cholesterol deposits in the blood vessel walls when they exist in high levels. This is the first step of development of atherosclerosis, which initiates a cascade events that leads to many of the arterial diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke etc. According to American Heart Association, LDL level less than 100 mg/dl is optimum, 100 to 129 mg/dl is above optimum, 130 to 159 mg/dl is borderline high, 160 to 189 mg/dl is high and more than 190 mg/dl is very high.   

HDL cholesterol is the ones that collect lipids from the peripheral tissues. They bring these lipids back to the liver, so the liver can excrete them through bile. Therefore, HDL cholesterol reduces the peripheral levels of lipids. This action of HDL cholesterol reduces the chance of developing atherosclerosis. Therefore, they are regarded as ‘good cholesterol’. So, higher the HDL levels better. Higher levels of HDL protect you from heart diseases and strokes. You should have more than 60 mg/dl of HDL level to get protected from atherosclerotic disease. HDL level less than 40 mg/dl for men and less than 50 mg/dl for women are considered as risk factors for development of heat disease.

Total cholesterol level is the other value which a cholesterol report provides. It is calculated by using the following formula. 

Total cholesterol = HDL + LDL + Triglycerides/5

The desirable total cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dl. If your total cholesterol level is lower than 200 mg/dl, you are at low risk of developing heart disease and strokes. Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dl are considered as borderline high. If the cholesterol levels are higher than 240 mg/dl, it is considered as high blood cholesterol. If your total cholesterol level is higher than 240 mg/dl, you are at a higher risk. Therefore, you should get immediate medical advice.

Triglyceride levels are also given in cholesterol profile. Normal triglyceride value is less than 150 mg/dl.  Triglyceride levels between 150 to 199 mg/dl is borderline high, 200 to 499 mg /dl is high and levels more than 500 mg/dl is considered to be very high. Triglycerides are the lipids that get elevated as a result of obesity, cigarette smoking, high fat diet, excessive alcohol consumption and sedentary life style. But, some genetic disorders can also cause hypertriglyceridemia.

Now you can go through your own cholesterol levels and see whether you are at risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Your doctor will give you advice regarding the actions you should take according to the level of risk.