If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, the excess builds up on the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. This buildup is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. It narrows the arteries and can slow down or block blood flow to the heart. With less blood, the heart gets less oxygen. Without enough oxygen to the heart, there may be chest pain, heart attack or even death.
Cholesterol buildup is the most common cause of heart disease, and it happens so slowly that you are not even aware of it. The higher your blood cholesterol, the greater your chance of this buildup. Lowering your blood cholesterol level reduces the chances of having a heart attack, needing bypass surgery or angioplasty, and dying of heart-related causes.
How do my cholesterol levels affect my risk for heart attack?
The higher the LDL number, the higher the risk for heart disease. The opposite is true for the HDL cholesterol. The lower the HDL number, the higher the risk for heart disease.
| Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels | |
| Total Cholesterol Level | Risk Category |
| Less than 200 mg/dL | Normal |
| 200 – 239 mg/dL | Borderline high |
| 240 mg/dL and above | High |
| LDL Cholesterol Level | Risk Category |
| Less than 100 mg/dL | Ideal |
| 100-129 mg/dL | Nearly ideal |
| 130-159 mg/dL | Borderline high |
| 160-189 mg/dL | High |
| 190 mg/dL and above | Very high |
| HDL Cholesterol Level | Risk Category |
| Above 60 mg/dL | Protective |
| Less than 40 mg/dL | Major risk factor |
| Triglyceride Level | Risk Category |
| 150-199 mg/dL | Borderline high |
| 200 mg/dL or more | High |
How can I reduce my cholesterol levels?
- Get a blood test to find out what your total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels are.
- Understand your risk for heart attack because of elevated cholesterol levels.
- Take the Heart Risk Assessment.
- Take the risk assessment to determine your Ten Year Risk for Heart Attack (http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/atpiii/calculator.asp)
- Discuss your risk with your health care provider and ask for a treatment / prevention plan.
- Stop smoking. If you need some help to stop, visit our “Tobacco Free” center.
- Increase your physical activity level to 30 minutes on most days. Need help getting started? Visit the virtual “gym”.
- Eat foods that will help you lower your cholesterol. Learn more about the TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) diet that includes:
- Less than 7% of the day’s total calories from saturted fat. Lowering saturated fat is the most important dietary change for reducing blood cholesterol.
- Less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.
- Just enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
- Calculate your BMI to determine if you need to lose weight.
- Follow the treatment plan given to you by your health care provider. Go to our Drug Reference Center to look up any medication you may be taking.
- Don’t forget to manage all your risks for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
For More Information:
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute brochure:High Blood Cholesterol – What You Need to Know. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.pdf
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. NIH
