The human body needs a sufficient amount of cholesterol for the production of hormones and vitamin D. In addition to the body producing this waxy substance, it can also be obtained from foods of animal origin.
“The most common cause of high LDL cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle. Excess body weight and the consumption of many animal fats are related to high levels of LDL cholesterol. However, genes that are inherited from parents, other conditions, and certain medications can also cause high cholesterol. High cholesterol can be increased by the consumption of saturated fat, processed foods, fried foods.
Excess cholesterol in the blood can cause a buildup, known as plaque, in the blood vessels. These can become inflamed and rupture, causing a clot. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.
The human body can eliminate cholesterol through medicines. According to Medline Plus, the website of the United States National Library of Medicine, changes in lifestyle, in some cases, are not enough to lower blood cholesterol. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe medications to contribute to this regulation.
In most cases, people do not usually show symptoms of high cholesterol. For this reason, experts insist on the importance of performing periodic medical examinations to verify that the levels of this fat are within normal ranges. It is recommended to perform with the following frequency:
- Persons under 19 years of age: the first test to measure cholesterol should be between nine and eleven years. From then on, it is recommended to do it every five years. In the event that there is a family history of high cholesterol, heart attacks or stroke, it is advisable to carry out this test from the age of two.
- People 20 years and older: young adults should have their cholesterol levels checked every five years. For men between 45 and 65 years old and women between 55 and 65 years old, it is recommended to do it every one or two years.
When running medical tests on blood cholesterol levels, the document will list several types of cholesterol. Below is the explanation of each of them. It should be noted that not all are bad.
- Colesterol total: Total amount of cholesterol in the blood. It includes both types: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
- Colesterol malo (LDL): The one that builds up in your arteries and clogs them.
- Good cholesterol (HDL): Helps remove cholesterol from your arteries.
- No-HDL: This number is your total cholesterol minus your good cholesterol (HDL). Your non-HDL cholesterol includes bad cholesterol (LDL) and other types of cholesterol, such as very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
- Triglycerides: Another type of fat in your blood that can increase your risk of heart disease, especially in women.
Healthy blood cholesterol ranges
For those 19 years of age or younger
- Total cholesterol: less than 170 mg/dl
- Non-HDL: less than 120 mg/dl
- LDL: menos de 100 mg/dl
- HDL: more than 45 mg/dl
Men 20 years or older
- Colesterol total: 125 a 200 mg/dl
- Non-HDL: less than 130 mg/dl
- LDL: less than 100 mg/dl
- HDL: 40 mg/dl o mayor
Women 20 years or older
