While high cholesterol often gets a bad rap, it is not all negative. In fact, cholesterol plays an essential role in your body. It helps build and maintain cells, produce hormones like estrogen and vitamin D, and aid digestion. The key lies in balancing the right types of cholesterol to protect your heart health.
So, what is cholesterol, which cholesterol is bad, and which type of cholesterol is good? Let’s explore this commonly misunderstood topic to better understand cholesterol.
Cholesterol – or the fatty substance found in your cells – is divided up into two different types: HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Here’s what you need to know about both:
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood and body tissues. While your body needs cholesterol to function, too much of it can be harmful. Excess cholesterol—along with triglycerides, another type of fat—can build up in your arteries over time. This plaque build-up causes narrowing of the arteries, raising your blood pressure and increasing your risk of heart disease, blood clots, and stroke.
While both types of cholesterol are essentially the same, there is one key way in which they differ – where they go within the body.
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein): Also known as the good type of cholesterol, HDL helps to carry cholesterol to your liver. As a digestive powerhouse, the liver processes excess cholesterol to be removed from the body.
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein): Also known as the bad type of cholesterol, LDL carries cholesterol to the arteries. Rather than being removed from the body, excess cholesterol collects along the walls of arteries causing build-up.
As an essential building block for cells, your body actually creates all the cholesterol it needs to function. However, most people get high amounts of cholesterol from external sources, like diet. The primary causes of high cholesterol include:
- High-fat foods: red meat and full-fat dairy products
- Lack of exercise: regular exercise helps to lower cholesterol
- Excess weight: extra pounds increase cholesterol levels
- Underlying health conditions: diabetes and thyroid conditions can impact levels
Oftentimes, high cholesterol won’t cause any noticeable symptoms. That means the only way to really know if your levels are high is to work with your doctor to have them checked. A cholesterol test is an easy blood test that can check your HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels.
When you have a cholesterol test done, also known as a lipid panel, the ideal levels or measurements are:
- HDL: Above 55 mg/dL for women | Above 45 mg/dL for men
- LDL: Below 130 mg/dL
- Triglycerides: Below 150 mg/dL
Regular cholesterol screenings, combined with guidance from your healthcare provider, are key to staying on top of your heart health.
Preventing or lowering high cholesterol begins with simple, heart-healthy lifestyle changes:
- Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet: Focus on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins like chicken and fish, and healthy fats from sources like olive oil or avocados. Avoid processed foods, trans fats, and excess sugar.
- Stay Active: Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Even walking can make a difference.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing even a small amount of weight can help lower LDL cholesterol levels.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking damages your blood vessels and lowers HDL (good) cholesterol.
Manage Stress and Sleep Well: Chronic stress and poor sleep can negatively impact your heart health.
If you have high cholesterol, it may be time to make an appointment with a cardiologist, especially if you have a family history of heart disease. The best way to prevent and treat high cholesterol is to work with a trusted cardiologist that understands your unique heart health.
Take Control of Your Cholesterol and Heart Health Today
Do you know your cholesterol levels? If not, it is time to take action. At the Georgia Heart Institute’s Center for Cardiovascular Prevention, Metabolism and Lipids, our team offers comprehensive cholesterol testing, counseling, and preventive care.