LDL Cholesterol

What's Your Number? Understanding LDL Cholesterol

We have heard a lot about cholesterol in the past decade, and with good reason. It appears that there is a very significant link between your cholesterol levels and your risk of heart and cardiovascular disease. By keeping these cholesterol numbers in check, we can make a big difference in our overall health. The problem is that cholesterol is not exactly a simple concept, in that there are two different cholesterol numbers that must be tracked. Couple that with the fact that one of these numbers needs to remain low, while the other should stay high. So which one is which, and how exactly do we get those numbers where we want them? The first step is to understand the two different types of cholesterol, and in this article we will address the issues of LDL cholesterol.

The "Bad" Cholesterol

It is true that LDL cholesterol has gotten a "bad" rap, which means that this is the type of cholesterol that needs to maintain a low number in order for you to maintain good health. LDL cholesterol is also known as low-density lipoproteins, and these lipoproteins can leave deposits of plaque on your arteries as they pass through your bloodstream. As the plaque builds, blood cannot pass through your system as efficiently and your heart has to work harder to pump the blood through your body. This strain on your heart is what increases your risk of heart and cardiovascular disease. Since this process is amplified when more of these lipoproteins accumulate in your blood, this is the type of cholesterol that you want to keep on the lower side to protect your ticker. Your target number for your LDL cholesterol should be 100 or less, and anything higher than 130 is cause for concern.

So how do you keep your LDL cholesterol at a healthy level? For most of us, the answer lies in healthy lifestyle choices, like a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and plenty of whole grains. It also means daily aerobic exercise that will keep the blood pumping and the lipoproteins passing through. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking will also help to keep your LDL cholesterol level nice and low. For some, medication may be necessary to lower a number that has already gotten too high, if diet and exercise alone do not successfully bring the level down. However, these types of medications have their share of side effects and their advantages should be weighed carefully. Successfully bringing down your LDL cholesterol levels through any of these methods will lessen your risk of heart disease and lead you to a healthier way of life overall.