Most people know that high cholesterol is bad for your heart. But many people may not realize they have borderline or high cholesterol levels, a condition which can be influenced by a poor diet, lack of physical activity, genetics and smoking.
High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. The condition also carries many of the same risk factors as heart disease, such as hypertension, pre-diabetes and being overweight or obese.
(The Baptist Health South Florida News Team hears from Barbara Socha, M.D., internal medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care, about treating high cholesterol. Video by George Carvalho and Alcyene Almeida Rodrigues)
High cholesterol can limit blood flow, increasing risk of heart attack or stroke. However, it’s easily detected by routine blood tests as part of an annual physical. And it can be treated through lifestyle modifications and medication, or a combination. With healthier diets and a regular exercise program, many people can reduce or eliminate the need for medication to lower blood cholesterol levels.
“A lot of people are aware of their cholesterol numbers and want to do something about them,” said Barbara Socha, M.D. [1], internal medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care [2].
The ‘Good’ and the ‘Bad’
The two major forms of cholesterol found in your body are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL, or “good cholesterol,” has a protective effect on your heart by moving harmful cholesterol out of your arteries. Doctors usually recommend that you have a high level of HDL cholesterol.
LDL, or “bad cholesterol”, is made by your body and also absorbed from cholesterol-rich foods such as red meat and dairy. LDL can combine with other fats and substances, creating blockages in your arteries in the form of deposits (plaque) that build up and harden on the walls of blood vessels. This can reduce your blood flow and cause serious health problems.
“High cholesterol can have no symptoms, but sometimes people know that their family members have high cholesterol,” said Dr. Socha. “So they come in concerned about it and want to get it checked because of the family history.”
When Do You Need Meds?
Before prescribing medication, your primary care physician will likely recommend lifestyle modifications, such as improving your diet, starting an exercise program, and weight management.
“If after three to six months, they’re not able to make any progress on their numbers (through lifestyle modifications), or there is a big family-history component, then they may need to get started on medication,” says Dr. Socha.
But many people tend to abandon healthier lifestyle choices after getting on cholesterol medication, and that’s a mistake, she says.
“If you’re overweight and you take cholesterol medication and your numbers are better, but you’re still unhealthy because you’re overweight and not exercising — that’s not going to fix everything,” says Dr. Socha.
What the Numbers Mean
Total Cholesterol Level (as measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood):
Desirable — Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high — 200-239 mg/dL
High — 240 mg/dL and above
LDL Cholesterol Level
Optima — Less than 100 mg/dLl
Near optimal/above optimal — 100-129 mg/dL
Borderline high — 130-159 mg/dL
High — 160-189 mg/dL
Very high — 190 mg/dL and above