Cholesterol is a waxy alcohol, fat-like substance present in the body. Cholesterol is essential for the normal functioning of the body’s processes and to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity.
Cholesterol Range Chart
| Cholesterol | Desirable | Borderline | High |
| Total cholesterol | Less than 200 | 200 to 240 | More than 250 |
| HDH cholesterol | More than 50 | 50 to 35 | Less than 35 |
| LDL cholesterol | Less than 130 | 130 to 160 | More than 200 |
| Triglycerides | Less than 150 | 150 to 500 | More than 500 |
Normal Cholesterol Range For Women
- Ideally, the Total Cholesterol level should be below 200 mg/dl.
- HDL cholesterol or high density lipoprotein cholesterol level must be more than 50 mg/dl.
- LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol should be below 100 mg/dl.
- Triglyceride Level must be less than 150 mg/dl.
Women need to take greater care and precaution, since they face hormonal changes during menopause, often causing LDL cholesterol to rise and HDL cholesterol to reduce. This greatly increases a post-menopausal woman’s risk for cardio-vascular disorders.
Also see Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Cholesterol Ranges For Children
- Cholesterol is not something you may be anxious about, when it comes to your child’s health. Nonetheless, kids are in just as much danger as adults, of developing high cholesterol and consequent heart troubles.
- Children in the age range of 2 to 19 years, the LDL ought to be less than 130 mg and HDL higher than 35 mg.
Tips on Lifestyle Changes to Lower Cholesterol
Key management strategy to keep cholesterol levels healthy is an appropriate, healthy and wholesome diet, regular exercise and suitable lifestyle modifications.
Also see Foods for High Choltesterol
Cholesterol plays an important part in an individual’s cardio-vascular health. Raised blood cholesterol is the foremost risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Hence, it is vital to monitor the cholesterol level regularly.
Ideal Cholesterol Levels
Serum cholesterol is classified by levels. Factors such as age, sex, race, family history, smoking, high blood pressure, diet, exercise, obesity and diabetes lay a pivotal role as well.
Experts have set up healthy and normal cholesterol range for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. They’re given below:
Healthy Blood Cholesterol Levels
Total cholesterol level
- Less than 200 mg/dl: this is a desirable level and puts you at a lower risk for coronary heart disease.
- 200 to 239 mg/dl: borderline level
- 240 mg/dl and above: high level. The person is at great risk of developing cardio-vascular disorders.
More on High Cholesterol Effects On Heart
Good And Bad Cholesterol Levels
HDL cholesterol (or good cholesterol) level
- Less than 40 mg/dl
(for men)
Less than 50 mg/dl
(for women): low HDL, high risk for cardio-vascular diseases
- 60 mg/dl and above: protective against cardiac disease.
Also try Drugs to Treat Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol (or bad cholesterol) level
- Less than 100 mg/dl: normal level
- 100 to 129 mg/dl: near normal
- 130 to 150 mg/dl: borderline
- 160 to 189 mg/dl: high
- 190 mg/dl: very high
High Cholesterol Causes and Treatments
British scientists have identified an enzyme which is responsible for clogging up our arteries. The enzyme – matrix metalloproteinase-8, raises the blood pressure and produces an abnormal build-up of cells within the arteries.
The lead researcher said that it is this enzyme that plays a very critical role in the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries, which in turn leads to atherosclerosis, eventually contributing to various heart diseases.
Read more on Correlation between High Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease
The researchers genetically engineered some mice, so that they lacked the matrix metalloproteinase-8 enzyme. These mice were then fed on a diet which was high in fats and cholesterol. These genetically engineered mice were then compared with normal mice that were fed on the same diet.
Also see Accurate Cholesterol Test
The results showed that the mice which lacked the matrix metalloproteinase enzyme, had much clearer arteries and lower blood pressures than the normal mice.
- Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the body which serves several vital roles. It is a building block for various hormones and bile acids, and it plays an important role in stabilizing cell membranes.
- While proper cholesterol levels are necessary for good health, evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that elevated levels greatly increase the risk of death due to cardio-vascular diseases.
Experts recommend that your total blood cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg per deciliter, from a fasting blood sample.
Elevated blood cholesterol is usually without any signs or symptoms. However, it leads to atherosclerosis. Further more, development of atherosclerosis is associated with angina, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction and diabetes.
Also read about Dangers of Cholesterol Lowering Tablets
Diet for Reducing Cholesterol Level:
Ditch the deep fried foods. Instead opt for foods that are either grilled or baked or boiled or roasted.
It is very important that you keep a track record of the saturated fats, trans-fats, unsaturated fats, cholesterol and sodium, that you consume in your everyday menu.
Low Cholesterol Diet:
- Onion: It has been established that the onion is a great preventive against heart attacks. The onion assists the function of the heart by reducing blood cholesterol level and helps to de-clog blocked arteries. A patient demonstrating elevated levels of cholesterol should consume the juice of 1 raw onion per day, regularly everyday, for a month. Assess the cholesterol level after a period of 1 month. It will show a decline.
- Oats: Oat bran’s dietary fibre is high in beta-glucan which helps lower cholesterol by binding bile acids and removing them from the body via feces. 3 grams of oat fibre per day lowers the serum cholesterol level from 8 to 23 %. Oats can be consumed in the form of porridge or breakfast cereal or oat bran can be added to the dough while making breads.
- Aubergines (brinjals): Aubergines help reduce cholesterol in the aorta (the main artery that carries blood from the heart) and also the other arterial walls. It also relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, thus improving blood flow through them. These significant effects are due to phyto-chemicals called terpenes which are found abundantly in aubergines.
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