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Heart Health

Lipids and cholesterol

Blood lipid levels are dependent on diet and and genetic factors. A routine fasting blood lipid analysis provides a measure of:

total cholesterol
HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol)
LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
triglycerides

Increases in blood lipids, other than the good HDL-cholesterol, have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. In fact, a low HDL-cholesterol level is also a cardiac risk factor. The results of the blood lipid analysis will determine if it is necessary to take a cholesterol lowering medication and follow a low fat, low cholesterol diet. You should discuss the results of your blood tests with your doctor to determine what it means for your health and risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver to help meet the body’s need for hormones and bile acids. It also enters the body when high-fat foods are consumed. High blood cholesterol is a condition that greatly increases your chances of developing coronary heart disease. That is because extra cholesterol in the blood settles on the inner walls of the arteries, narrowing them, allowing less blood to pass through them to the heart. The higher your total blood cholesterol level, the greater your heart disease risk.

For all adults, a desirable total cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL. A level of 240 or above is considered high blood cholesterol. But even levels in the "borderline-high category (200-239) boost the risk of heart disease.

For a woman, the level of high-density lipoprotein (or HDL, the so-called "good" cholesterol) also affects heart disease risk. If your HDL is less than 35, your risk of heart disease increases. (see women and heart disease)