FEBRUARY 16: GET YOUR CHOLESTEROL IN CHECK

29 Days to a Healthier Heart

The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that elevated cholesterol levels greatly increase the risk of death due to heart disease.

The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that elevated cholesterol levels greatly increase the risk of death due to heart disease. It is currently recommended that the total blood level be less than 5.18 mmol/L. In addition, it is recommended that the LDL be less than 2.0 mmol/L (in high-risk patients), HDL cholesterol be greater than 1.5 mmol/L, and triglyceride levels less than 1.7 mmol/L.

Cholesterol is transported in the blood by lipoproteins. Though LDL is often referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’ and HDL as ‘good cholesterol’, they aren’t actually forms of it at all but lipoproteins. Since LDL is responsible for transporting fats (primarily triglycerides and cholesterol) from the liver to cells in the body for storage, while HDL is responsible for returning fats to the liver to be broken down, elevations of LDL are associated with an increased risk for developing atherosclerosis or ‘hardening of the arteries’. In contrast, elevations of HDL are associated with a low risk of heart disease.

The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL and the ratio of LDL to HDL are referred to as the cardiac risk factor ratios because they reflect whether it is being deposited into tissues or broken down and excreted by the liver.

Stay tuned for more information on maintaining healthy levels!

-Dr Karen Hack, BHSc, ND