Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also comes from the foods you eat.
If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of your blood vessels. This makes it harder for enough blood to flow through your arteries and veins. High cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
There are two main types of cholesterol:
The American Heart Association recommends: - For healthy adults, an LDL cholesterol level below 100 mg/dL is optimal. Levels between 100-129 mg/dL are acceptable for people with no health issues but may require lifestyle changes if higher. Levels above 190 mg/dL are very high. - For HDL cholesterol, levels of 60 mg/dL and higher help lower your risk for heart disease.
What affects cholesterol levels?
The two main factors are diet and family history. Eating saturated fats found in red meat, dairy products, fried foods, and baked goods raises LDL cholesterol. Trans fats also raise LDL and lower HDL. Foods high in soluble fiber help lower LDL cholesterol. Genetics also play a role, as familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited form of high cholesterol.
Other controllable factors are being overweight and physical inactivity. Uncontrollable factors include age and gender.
If diet and exercise alone don't lower high cholesterol levels, medication may be needed. Statins are commonly prescribed to help lower LDL cholesterol production in the liver. Other options include cholesterol absorption inhibitors, bile acid resins, fibrates, and niacin.
At Elite Hormone Health, our physicians specialize in customized hormone therapy and cholesterol management programs to help patients achieve healthy cholesterol levels through natural solutions. Schedule a consultation to learn how our integrative treatments can benefit your heart health! We'd be happy to create a tailored regimen to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.