Facts about blood cholesterol - Pamphlet

Pamphlet by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, August, 1994

* Physical activity--Increased physical activity lowers LDL-cholesterol and raises HDL-cholesterol levels.

* Heredity--Your genes partly influence how your body makes and handles cholesterol.

* Age and Sex--Blood cholesterol levels in both men and women begin to go up around age 20. Women before menopause have levels that are lower than men of the same age. After menopause, a woman's LDL-cholesterol level goes up--and so her risk for heart disease increases.

Have Your Blood Cholesterol Checked

All adults age 20 and over should have their blood cholesterol (also called "total" blood cholesterol) checked at least once every 5 years. If an accurate HDL-cholesterol measurement is available, HDL should be checked at the same time. If you do not know your total and HDL levels, ask your doctor to measure them at your next visit.

Total and HDL-cholesterol measurements require a blood sample that is taken from your arm or finger. You do not have to fast for this test. If you have had your total and HDL-cholesterol checked, check the chart to see how they measure up.

Blood cholesterol levels of under 200 mg/dL are called "desirable" and put you at lower risk for heart disease. Any cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or more increases your risk; over half the adults in the United States have levels of 200 mg/dL or greater. Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL are "borderline-high." A level of 240 mg/dL or greater is "high" blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of heart disease compared to someone whose cholesterol is 200 mg/dL. About one out of every five American adults has a high blood cholesterol level of 240 mg/dl or greater.

Unlike total cholesterol, the lower your HDL, the higher your risk for heart disease. An HDL level less than 35 mg/dL increases your risk for heart disease. The higher your HDL level, the better.

In certain cases, it may be necessary to have your LDL-cbolester6l checked, too, because it is a better predictor of heart disease risk than your total blood cholesterol. You will need to fast. That means you can have nothing to eat or drink but water, coffee, or tea, with no cream or sugar, for 9 to 12 hours before the test.

If your doctor has checked your LDL level, use the chart below to see how it measures up.

If your LDL-cholesterol level is high or borderline-high and you have other risk factors for heart disease, your doctor will likely plan a treatment program for you. Following an eating plan low in saturated fat and cholesterol and increasing your physical activity is usually the first and main step of treatment. Some people will also need to take medicine. (If you have high blood cholesterol and would like re details on what it means and what you should do about it, see the ordering information on page 13.

TOTAL BLOOD CHOLESTEROL
AND HDL-CHOLESTEROL
CATEGORIES

Total Cholesterol
Less than 200 mg/dL     Desirable
200 to 239 mg/dL        Bordeline-High
240 mg/dL or greater    High
HDL-Choleserol
Less than 35 mg/dL      Low HDL-cholesterol

Note: These categories apply to adults age 20
and above.
LDL-CHOLESTEROL
CATEGORIES

Less than 130 mg/dL    Desirable
130 to 159 mg/dL       Borderline-High Risk
160 mg/dL and above    High Risk

Note: These categories apply to adults age 20
and above.