Check Your Cholesterol

Posted: Feb. 1, 2005

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults have their cholesterol levels checked at least every 5 years.

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body and is needed for the body to function normally. Your body makes enough cholesterol for its needs.

When there is too much cholesterol in your body — because of diet and the rate at which the cholesterol is processed — it is deposited in arteries, including those of the heart, which can lead to narrowing of the arteries and heart disease.

Studies among people with heart disease have shown that lowering cholesterol can reduce the risk for dying from heart disease, having a heart attack, and needing heart bypass surgery or angioplasty.

Studies among people without heart disease have shown that lowering cholesterol can reduce the risk for developing heart disease, including heart attacks and deaths related to heart disease. This is true for those with high cholesterol levels and even for those with average levels.

Cholesterol levels
A lipoprotein profile can be done to measure several different kinds of cholesterol as well as triglycerides (another kind of fat found in the blood).

Desirable or optimal levels for persons with or without existing heart disease are:

Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL.

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher.

Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL.

What if I need medicine for high cholesterol levels?
Medicine to lower your cholesterol levels, if needed, is used along with lifestyle changes.

It is still very important to adopt a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, increase your physical exercise, and manage your weight.

The main goal of cholesterol-lowering treatment is to lower your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) level enough to reduce your risk of getting heart disease or having a heart attack.

There are five major types of cholesterol-lowering medicines:
Statins
Very effective in lowering LDL ("bad" cholesterol) levels
Safe for most people
Rare side effects to watch for are liver and muscle problems.

Bile Acid Sequestrants
Help lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels
Sometimes prescribed with statins
Not usually prescribed as the only medicine to lower cholesterol

Nicotinic Acid
Lowers LDL (“bad”cholesterol) levels and triglycerides, and raises HDL ("good" cholesterol) levels
Should only be used under a doctor's supervision

Fibrates
Lowers triglycerides
May increase HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels
When used with a statin, may increase the chance of muscle problems

Ezetimibe
Lowers LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels
May be used with statins or alone
Acts within the intestine to block cholesterol absorption

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

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