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The Good, the Bad and the Difference
The Facts About Cholesterol
By Carma Haley
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 51 percent of the United States adult population has cholesterol levels higher then those that are recommended. So what does that mean? What are the recommended levels?
To find the level of cholesterol in the blood, physicians can perform a simple blood test. This cholesterol test will show levels of total cholesterol for LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), as well as HDL (the "good" cholesterol). The American Heart Association recommends that total cholesterol levels remain under 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood). Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dl are said to offer a risk for complications while levels above 240 mg/dl are said to be high risk and medical intervention is needed.
The recommendations for LDL levels indicate a result of under 130 mg/dl is considered healthy while 130 to 159 mg/dl is at risk and above 160 mg/dl is high risk. HDL level recommendations differ, as a higher level of HDL is needed to rid the body of excess cholesterol. Therefore, a result of greater then 35 mg/dl is considered healthy while a reading less than 35 mg/dl is considered at risk. If questions arise after receiving blood cholesterol results, a medical professional can help to interpret the need for medical intervention and changes in life style in order to keep cholesterol levels within the required recommendation limit.
