How much cholesterol is too much?
High cholesterol level is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis along with smoking, overweight and having high blood pressure. High cholesterol is defined according to your age, so what’s high for you may not be high for your parents.
High cholesterol is defined as a total cholesterol level higher than 5.2 mmol/L which is 200 mg/dL in American units. The numbers differ because the measurements are taken differently on both sides of the Atlantic.
There are two types of cholesterol in your blood – good and bad. High cholesterol is sometimes known as a silent disease because there are frequently no visible symptoms – until something serious happens.
If high cholesterol is left untreated high cholesterol can lead to serious complications, sometimes even death. That makes it very important to have your colestrol checked – properly – by your doctor. It won’t go away on its own. However, before you think about medication you may want to consider lifestyle changes – they can be easy to make and can have dramatic results and you can also avoid the so-called statin side effects
LDL is called the bad cholesterol and it has a higher fat-to-protein ratio than HDL – which is usually called the good cholesterol. Cholesterol from LDL is the main source of buildup and blockage in your arteries. So the more LDL cholesterol your blood contains the greater your risk of heart disease.
If you manage to lower your cholesterol levels it can slow, stop, or even reverse the buildup of plaque. It can also reduce your risk of a heart attack. It’s well worth learning all you can about high cholesterol foods.
General texts like this are not intended as a substitute for competent, professional medical advice. As with anything medical, you should consult your physician for his advice before you consider making any changes, or taking any medications.
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