The High Cholesterol/Cardiovascular Disease Connection

One of the simplest and most effective ways to determine the general health of your cardiovascular system is to have your cholesterol checked on a regular basis. As a general rule, the higher the level of cholesterol in your body, the higher the risk you have of developing cardiovascular disease.

Why is this important? Because health officials estimate roughly 50 percent of all adults have unhealthy levels of cholesterol and 42 million adults have dangerously high levels--and you could be one of them without even knowing. Lower your cholesterol level, and you'll lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol and You

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's normal to have cholesterol. It's an important part of a healthy body because it's used to build new cells, insulate nerves, and produce hormones. Your liver makes cholesterol for your body, and you also get cholesterol from the food you eat. If you eat foods high in fat, or if your liver produces too much cholesterol, your cholesterol can reach an unhealthy level.

Is it the Good Type or the Bad Type? One type of cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL - known as "bad" cholesterol. If too much LDL circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries that flow to the heart and brain. This buildup hardens and becomes plaque, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease

The other type of cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein or HDL - known as "good cholesterol. Your body makes HDL cholesterol for your protection. Studies show that high levels of HDL cholesterol reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. In the U.S. 46 million people suffer from low HDL levels.

	What are Healthy Levels of Cholesterol? Your cholesterol levels are measured by a simple blood test. A small sample of your blood is analyzed to determine the total cholesterol (TC) level, the level of LDL Cholesterol, the level of HDL cholesterol, and the level of triglycerides. A ratio of TC to HDL is also measured.
	Only in the last few years have HDL levels been recognized as a risk factor for heart disease. This means even if your total cholesterol and LDL levels are healthy, if you have an HDL level of less than 35 mg/dL you have more risk of cardiovascular disease.
	Cholesterol Ratio Sometimes you'll be given your cholesterol results as a ratio of TC to HDL cholesterol. (This is the same as saying the total cholesterol divided by the HDL cholesterol. The ratio should be below 5:1 and best below 3.5:1)
	Triglyceride Level Triglycerides in your blood are derived fom fats eaten in foods or made in the body from other energy sources like carbohydrates. Calories eaten in a meal but not used immediately by the tissures are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells and stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue to meet the body's needs for energy between meals. High levels of triglycerides have also been linked to cardiovascular disease.