Cholesterol has become one of the most talked-about health topics today. What makes it concerning is that high cholesterol can lead to serious health problems like cardiac arrest, heart attack, obesity, and other lifestyle diseases. The key lies in balance. In fact, cholesterol is an essential fat that our body needs to build cells and produce hormones.
While Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the bad cholesterol for its role in plaque buildup in arteries. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol that helps to remove LDL from the bloodstream. Understanding this difference between good and bad cholesterol is crucial for protecting the heart and making better lifestyle choices.
Table of Contents
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty and waxy substance that is present in every cell of your body. In fact, our body needs it to build healthy cells, and produce hormones and vitamin D. However, if it is crossed an optimal level (less than 200mg/dL), it can lead to severe health problems such as cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke.
Cholesterol comes from two sources.
- Your liver makes all the cholesterol that your body needs.
- The rest of the cholesterol in your body comes from animal food like red meat, poultry, and dairy products that contain fat.
These foods can also be high in saturated and trans fats. These fats can increase the bad cholesterol in your body.
Some tropical oils, such as palm oil, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil, contain saturated fat that can raise bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol types: LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
- Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), often called bad cholesterol. An optimal level is 100mg/dL.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL), often called good cholesterol. An optimal level is 60mg/dL.
- Triglycerides are another type of fat that builds up in the body.
Lipoproteins are small, round particles made of lipids (fats) and proteins that carry cholesterol in your blood and throughout the body.
Complications:
- High levels of bad cholesterol may lead to the buildup of “plaque” (fat deposits) in arteries, which can cause heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
- High levels of good cholesterol may lower the risk of health problems. It carries the bad cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver for removal.
- High levels of triglycerides and low levels of good cholesterol can raise the risk of heart disease.
According to the National Institute of Health:
| types of cholesterol | optimal level for adults | optimal level for children under 19 years |
|---|---|---|
| LDL | less than 100mg/dL | less than 100 |
| HDL | greater than 60mg/dL | greater than 45mg/dL |
| triglycerides | less than 150mg/dL | less than 90mg/dL |
Note: The total cholesterol level should be less than 200; a borderline level is 200-239. The lower, the better. Genes and lifestyle habits play a major role in maintaining an optimal level of cholesterol in the body.
is blocked due to a high level of LDL
Do high levels of LDL show any Symptoms?
Typically, high cholesterol does not show any symptoms. But if your levels are very high, you may notice the following signs:
- Fatty bumps on skin, especially on hands, ankles, elbows, knees, and buttocks.
- Grayish-white rings appear around the cornea in your eye.
How can I manage/prevent higher levels of LDL?
- Avoid oily and fried foods
- Adopt foods that increase good cholesterol, such as fiber-rich fruits, overnight-soaked nuts, whole grains, and vegetables.
- Limit the consumption of non-veg items
- Moderate exercise for at least 150 minutes a week
- Make yoga and meditation a daily routine, so that you can maintain a healthy weight, and you can reduce your high levels of LDL.
Conclusion:
High levels of LDL can silently damage arteries and increase the risk of heart disease, while HDL plays a protective role by carrying LDL away. However, better lifestyle choices such as eating a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, and managing stress can help keep cholesterol levels in check. With regular checkups and healthy lifestyle choices, high cholesterol can be effectively controlled before it becomes a serious health concern.
