High Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Elevated blood cholesterol has been shown to be a major risk factor for the development of heart disease, stroke and atherosclerotic vascular (blood vessel) disease.
Cholesterol and triglycerides are fatty substances found in the body that travel in the blood stream. Cholesterol itself is not bad. It is needed for fat digestion, and is part of cell membranes, bile salts, vitamin D, sex and adrenal hormones.
Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body and food. Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75 percent of cholesterol found in the blood. The other 25 percent comes from the foods you eat.
Cholesterol has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol, make up your total cholesterol count, which is determined through a blood test.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL "bad" cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood to the body). Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, a heart attack or stroke can occur.
HDL (good) Cholesterol HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart and blood vessel disease. Low levels of HDL also increase the risk of heart disease. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.
Lipoproteins (HDL)
Elevations of the blood HDL, or High Density Lipoprotein, have been correlated with a decreased risk of heart disease. HDL tends to run higher in women than in men. For the reasons outlined above, the blood test to measure the HDL level has become quite important to many people. This test is performed (generally at the same time as cholesterol testing) on a simple venipuncture specimen. Below are charts that show relative cardiac risk as it pertains to the HDL and cholesterol level.
The ratio of the cholesterol to the level of the HDL (divide the total cholesterol by the total HDL) is an important indicator of cardiac risk.
Cardiac Risk: (HDL Levels)
| Relative Risk |
Men (HDL)
|
Women (HDL)
|
| Very Low |
65 |
75 |
| Low |
55 |
65 |
| Average |
45 |
55 |
| Moderate |
25 |
40 |
| High |
< 25 |
< 40 |
Cardiac Risk: (Cholesterol/HDL Levels)
| Relative Risk |
Men (Ratio)
|
Women (Ratio)
|
| Very Low |
3.4 |
3.3 |
| Low |
4.0 |
3.8 |
| Average |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| Moderate |
9.5 |
7.0 |
| High |
> 23 |
> 11 |
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your body. They are also a major energy source. Triglycerides come from food and your body. High levels of blood triglycerides are often found in people who have high cholesterol levels, heart problems, are overweight or have diabetes. When triglycerides are higher than normal (150 mg/dL or more), your risk of heart disease or stroke may be increased Lp(a) Cholesterol.
Lp(a) is a generic variation of LDL "bad" cholesterol. A high level of Lp(a) is a significant risk factor for the premature development of fatty deposits in arteries. Lp(a) is not fully understood, but it may interact with substances found in artery walls and contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits.
In general, many experts recommend a blood cholesterol below 200 mg/dl. Listed below are charts that show the relative cardiac risk as it pertains to total cholesterol, HDL levels and Cholesterol/HDL ratio:
Cardiac Risk: Total Cholesterol
|
Relative Risk
|
Total Cholesterol
|
| Very Low |
150 mg/dl |
| Low |
200 mg/dl |
| Average |
225 mg/dl |
| Moderate |
260 mg/dl |
| High |
greater than 300 mg/dl |
Cardiac Risk: HDL Levels
|
Relative Risk
|
HDL (Men)
|
HDL (Women)
|
| Very Low |
65 |
75 |
| Low |
55 |
65 |
| Average |
45 |
55 |
| Moderate |
25 |
40 |
| High |
less than 25 |
less than 40 |
Cardiac Risk: Cholesterol/HDL Ratio
|
Relative Risk
|
Ratio (Men)
|
Radio (Women)
|
| Very Low |
3.4 |
3.3 |
| Low |
4.0 |
3.8 |
| Average |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| Moderate |
9.5 |
7.0 |
| High |
greater than 23 |
greater than 11 |
Genesis Medical Center's Children's Risk Factor Reduction Program is designed to assist children in lowering their high cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and addressing other risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Call 421-3987 for further information regarding this program.
Risk Factors
Certain factors can increase your chance of having high cholesterol and triglycerides, therefore increasing the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. The more risk factors you have for heart and blood vessel disease, the greater your chance of developing these diseases. Some of these risk factors can be controlled and others cannot be altered. The following are factors that increase your risk:
- Being overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- A diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of total calories)
- Diabetes
- Family history of high cholesterol
- Diet high in saturated fat, trans fats and cholesterol
- Aging