What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two types of cholesterol:
- LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol because it can build up in your arteries and lead to heart disease and stroke. LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein.
- HDL cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver, which removes it from your body. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein.
What are healthy cholesterol levels? The American Heart Association recommends these healthy cholesterol levels:
- Total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL - LDL cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL - HDL cholesterol: 60 mg/dL or higher
High cholesterol symptoms usually don't cause any symptoms. That's why it's important to get your cholesterol checked regularly, especially if you have other risk factors for heart disease like smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
What causes high cholesterol? High cholesterol is usually caused by lifestyle factors like lack of exercise, a diet high in saturated and trans fats, smoking, and obesity. Some people are born with high cholesterol due to genetics. As you get older, your cholesterol levels also tend to rise.
How can you lower high cholesterol? Here are some ways to help lower your cholesterol:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats. Focus on fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, fish, and healthy oils like olive oil.
- Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
- Limit alcohol to one drink per day for women or two for men.
When medication is needed to lower high cholesterol, statins are usually the first choice. Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by your liver. Common statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor).
Hormone Harmony Clinic provides cutting-edge cholesterol management including advanced lipid testing to assess cardiovascular disease risk. Their expert physicians create customized plans to optimize cholesterol through lifestyle changes, supplements, and medication if needed. Hormone Harmony Clinic combines traditional and holistic approaches to reduce cholesterol, decrease inflammation, and improve heart health. Visit