How Cholesterol Levels Impact Health and the Normal Ranges for HDL and LDL

09/10/2024

Let’s check out what levels are considered optimal for cholesterol in the body. 

What Does Cholesterol Stand for? 

Cholesterol is a type of lipid created by the liver. It is a fatty, waxy, or oily substance. Cholesterol plays several paramount functions in the body, such as making the building blocks for all cells, regulating hormones, processing vitamin D, and producing bile acid. Let’s dig into those duties performed by cholesterol:

Regulating hormones: Cholesterol assists in many ways in the production of several hormones in the body, including sex hormones, testosterone, and progesterone.

In order to support the essential functions and roles, our liver makes enough cholesterol. In addition to this, we get cholesterol from the food we eat. The body carries out several important functions to expel the extra fat, but sometimes, the body fails to do so effectively. As a result, you see high levels of cholesterol circulating in your body, and that’s when problems arise.

Bile production: Cholesterol assists the liver in making bile to digest the fats in our daily diet.

Vitamin D processing: Whenever we head out in the day and get sun exposure, cholesterol works by converting it to vitamin D, which, as a result, improves bone health and supports the immune system.

Building blocks for cells: It is also responsible for making protective layers around cells, regulating what substances can enter and exit.  Cells may encounter many challenges to function appropriately without cholesterol. 

Types of Cholesterol:

The body makes many types of cholesterol, each responsible for carrying out different roles and purposes. The following are the cholesterol that we see in our bodies:

LDL:

LDL is the acronym for low-density lipoprotein, which is also referred to as bad cholesterol. It is not like they are not crucial to your body; they are called bad when they are more than needed in the body. LDLs attach with other substances and cause build-up around the walls of your arteries. Later, these fatty deposits make a plaque, which increases over time. Too much build of plaque in the body can affect your blood flow and contribute to diseases like heart attack and stroke. LDL cholesterol is something you want low. You should consider keeping it below 100 mg/dL, and if you have a history of atherosclerosis, you should target below 70 mg/dL.

HDL:

HDL cholesterol sands or high-density lipoproteins, mostly HDLs, are made by the protein. This type of cholesterol is also known as good cholesterol because it aims to push out the extra cholesterol from the bloodstream and transport it to the liver.  Once the extra cholesterol reaches the liver, the liver functions to break it down and expels out of the body. The entire process is labeled as reverse cholesterol transport. You should aim for a high HDL in the body. On the basis of gender, women or people who are assigned female at birth should have at least HDL 50/dL or above, and men should target HDL at least 40mg/dL. All adults should aim for HDL above 60, which will lower their chance of encountering heart disease.

VLDL:

VLDL refers to very low-density lipoproteins, also known as bad cholesterol. The reason for calling it bad cholesterol is that it also encourages plaque build-up on the arteries' walls. However, LDL and VLDL are distinct because LDL carries cholesterol, while VLDL carries triglycerides. 

What are the Common Causes of High Cholesterol?

There are several factors that can contribute to high cholesterol. Out of all factors, an unhealthy lifestyle is considered the most common. Let's delve into other possible factors:

Unhealthy Eating Habits:

What you eat on a daily basis plays a meaningful role in determining your health status. Consuming lots of saturated fats, which are found in various foods such as baked goods, meat, deep-fried and processed food, etc., can increase your bad cholesterol.

Sedentary Lifestyle:

If you are someone who lives a lethargic lifestyle with little to no physical activity, this lifestyle can effectively reduce your good cholesterol. Over time, you become more susceptible to serious illnesses like heart disease and stroke.

Smoking and Binge Drinking:

Drinking and smoking once in a while seems fine, but if you make it a daily habit, you put yourself at risk of developing high cholesterol. You should cut back on such habits in order to keep yourself healthy and active. 

What are the Risk Factors for High Cholesterol?

You are prone to come across high cholesterol if you align with any of the following risk factors listed below:

Age: Several studies reveal that the risk of high cholesterol increases with age. Children and young adults can also have high cholesterol, but it remains less common.

Sex: men between ages 20 and 30 pose a higher risk of coming across high cholesterol than women. On the other hand, the risk increases in women after menopause.

Family History: Your chances of stumbling upon high blood pressure are high if there is a family history.

Certain Medicines: There are various medications that can increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol in the body. If you are using the following medications, your risk is high: acne medicines, steroids, chemotherapy medication, etc.

Weight: If you are overweight or obese, this may contribute to high cholesterol. 

The Bottom Line:

As listed earlier, cholesterol performs several functions in the body required for an optimal and healthy life. However, you should keep an eye on cholesterol levels; if your bad cholesterol, also known as LDL, is increasing, you should take the necessary measures to manage it before it causes serious problems. If left untreated, it can induce heart disease and several other health conditions. Certain people are more prone to come across high cholesterol, especially those who indulge in unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking, eating saturated fats a lot, binge drinking, etc. In order to manage, you should live a healthy lifestyle, which promotes good well-being.

FAQs: 

1. What is the importance of HDL and LDL cholesterol?

LDL stands for low-density protein, which is also referred to as bad cholesterol. If it is too much in the body, it increases your risk of developing cardiovascular problems. LDL is responsible for carrying cholesterol to the arteries, which may, as a result, block the walls of blood vessels with plaque. On the other hand, HDL refers to high-density protein, which has the job of clearing the bad cholesterol from your body. It also diminishes your risk of developing serious heart disease. Also, certain medical conditions can decrease HDL in the body.

2. What is the normal range for HDL and LDL?

HDL (high-density protein), also known as good cholesterol, is the number you want to see high, ideally above 60. On the other hand, bad cholesterol, medically known as LDL, is the number you want below 100. The total of both should be below 200. If HDL is below ideal and LDL is higher than optimal, you should see your healthcare provider to know how to manage your good and bad cholesterol.

3. How do LDL and HDL make up the total cholesterol value?

Total cholesterol represents the total calculation of a person’s LDL, HDL, and 20% of triglyceride levels. Having total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL is considered healthy. Measuring the risk of cardiovascular disease via total cholesterol is just a single parameter. Your risk of stumbling upon heart disease depends on several factors, such as medical history, medications that you are using, your lifestyle, etc.

4. What factors influence LDL, HDL, and total blood cholesterol?

There are multiple factors that can influence HDL, LDL, and total blood cholesterol in the body. Some of the common factors are listed below: 

• Smoking

• Stress

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Little to no quality sleep

• Eating a diet high in saturated fats

• Sedentary lifestyle with no physical activity