Having healthy levels of cholesterol is vital in maintaining a heart-happy life. So where should your cholesterol levels be? The cholesterol range that most physicians refer to is ''low density lipoprotein" or LDL.
These are the bad cholesterols and should be maintained below 129 mg/Dl (milligrams per deciliter), whether or not you are male or female. The other type is the good cholesterol, "high density lipoprotein" or HDL, and should be around 40-50 mg/Dl for men and a slightly higher 50-60mg/Dl for women.
The total HDL should never be any greater than 35% of your total cholesterol. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing!" The third factor is the triglycerides. These should be maintained below 150mg for anybody.
When the LDL, and HDL are added up, they should be below 200 mg/Dl to be considered normal and healthy. People that have cholesterol levels above 280 are putting themselves at major risk of heart attacks and strokes.
For example, if John Doe has an LDL level of 190, and an HDL level of 25, that total number is 215. This is slightly higher than normal. You can also see that the ratio of bad cholesterol to good cholesterol is too high. Mr. Doe needs to decrease his LDL levels and increase his HDL levels.
Let's look at another example. Miss Jane Doe has an LDL level of 105 and an HDL level of 35. Her total score is 140, which is excellent! Her HDL levels are at a good ratio compared to her LDL cholesterol levels.
Knowing what your cholesterol levels are in the total cholesterol range is the first step in understanding the process to a healthier lifestyle. These fundamental facts build our knowledge and trust in our physicians. If you want to learn how to balance your cholesterol levels naturally, you might want to look at the many cutting-edge supplements that have come out in the last decade.
No comments:
Post a Comment