High Cholesterol Levels Can Lead To Heart Attacks and Strokes

Cholesterol is something that receives a lot of bad stress, and rightly so – people who have a high total cholesterol level are at risk of heart diseases and strokes.  You should aim to reduce your total cholesterol level – especially your levels of LDL cholesterol, and increase the amount of 'good' – HDL cholesterol in your body, to reduce any risk to your health.

Measuring Cholesterol

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood.  Your optimal cholesterol levels are determined by your race, gender, family history, blood pressure, weight, and any health concerns you have, as well as your level of physical activity.

You need to worry about two different types of cholesterol that are LDL (low density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol, and HDL (high density lipoprotein) or good cholesterol, and to ascertain the different cholesterol levels, your doctor would test you so that information is obtained with regard to LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.

If your total cholesterol level is around the 200mg level or lower, then you are not likely to be at risk of developing heart disease, your risk increases the higher your cholesterol level gets, and if it is more than 239 mg then you are classed as having a high level of risk.

Entering The Dangerzone

A level above two hundred and forty milligrams is considered as high cholesterol and at these levels you would be twice more at risk of contracting heart diseases as compared to the lower cholesterol levels. Other determinants with regard to risk factors for your medical health include the level of HDL in your body, and low HDL levels are nothing to be concerned about, while high HDL levels are a reason for concern.

There is no such thing as a normal cholesterol level, as so many factors can affect it.  In general, the lower your total and LDL cholesterol level, the better.  HDL cholesterol, however, is considered a good thing, and you should aim for a HDL cholesterol level of 60mg/dL or more.

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