Cholesterol and Heart Disease Risk

February 6, 2023 at 10:39 am

Cholesterol

As mentioned in previous articles your body needs cholesterol to function and your body does an excellent job of providing what you need of that fatty substance. The problems start when you have too much because of lifestyle choices. Your body doesn’t know what to do with the extra so it lets it start building up in the walls of your arteries and affect the flow of blood to your heart. The fat buildup or plaque causes your arteries to narrow and this restricts the amount of oxygen getting to your heart. A heart deprived of oxygen is at considerable risk of a heart attack.

Your healthcare team may draw blood for a Lipoprotein Profile, and they will look at your total cholesterol, your triglycerides, your HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are produced in the liver and are another type of fat found in blood and food. When you drink alcohol or take in more calories than you need your liver will produce more triglycerides.

You are at an increased risk of heart disease if you triglyceride levels are above 150 mg/dl. Levels of 150-199mg/dl is considered borderline high. If you level is 200-499mg/dl, then you have high triglycerides levels.

HDL Cholesterol Level

HDL (high density lipoprotein) is the “good” cholesterol you hear about. It carries cholesterol back to the liver to get broken down so that it can’t hang out in your arteries. You want an HDL level of 60 mg/dl or higher for protection. If it is less than 40 mg/dl this is a major risk factor for developing heart disease.

LDL Cholesterol Level

LDL Cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) is the “bad” cholesterol. It brings the cholesterol from the liver to the body’s cells. When there is too much it will leave it behind in your arteries. The higher your LDL cholesterol level is the greater your chances of developing heart disease. Anything above 130 mg/dl, especially when combined with other risk factors the greater the risk of a heart attack. Ideally you want your LDL below 100 mg/dl.

Below are risk factors for heart disease that will affect your LDL goal. Check to see how many of the following risk factors you have and talk to your healthcare team about ways to reduce your risk.

Cigarette smoking
Overweight
Physical Inactivity
High blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher, or if you are on blood pressure medication)
Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL)
Diabetic
Family history of early heart disease (your father or brother before age 55, or your mother or sister before age 65)
Age (55 or older if you are a woman; 45 or older if you’re a man)

If you have 2 or more risk factors on the above list you should talk to your doctor about your risk of a heart attack within the next 10 years and how you can try to avoid it.

A Special Type of Risk

There is a special group of risk factors known as metabolic syndrome and nearly 25% of Americans fall into this category. Metabolic syndrome is caused by being overweight or obese and not getting enough physical activity. This cluster increases your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. You have metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of the following conditions.

A waist measurement of 35 inches or more for a woman or 40 inches or more for a man
Triglycerides of 150 mg/dL or more
An HDL cholesterol level of less than 50 mg/dL for a woman and less than 40 mg/dL for a man
Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or more (either number counts)
Blood sugar of 100 mg/dL or more

The main goal of cholesterol-lowering treatment is to lower your LDL level enough to reduce your risk of heart disease or heart attack. The higher your risk category, the lower your LDL goal will be. Talk to your healthcare provider to find your personal LDL goal.

How to achieve optimal numbers

There are 2 main ways to lower your triglycerides and LDL levels and raise your HDL levels. You know the best way is through lifestyle changes. Sometimes lifestyle changes alone will not accomplish that goal and your doctor may prescribe medication. Just because you are on medication you do not want to give up on a healthy lifestyle. Your goal should be that you are on the lowest dosage possible if any for optimal heart health.

Dr. Bobish

Dr. Bobish and her team’s goal is to help you reduce your risk of heart disease. Helping you to understand your risk factors and make healthful lifestyle changes.

Remember regardless of age or current state of health it is never too late to start protecting your heart. It is also never too soon and the sooner you act the better. Follow us on Facebook to see our latest post helping to keep you heart healthy. You can also explore all our articles that offer diet and exercise tips, recipes and information on procedures and heart disease.

Dr. Bobish and her team focus on preventative care and are here to support you. Alpine Cardiology provides patients with education as well as compassionate care and treatment. We are committed to keeping you healthy and heart smart! Request an appointment at 989-448-7002

Guide to a Healthy Heart

We are committed to keeping Northern Michigan healthy and heart-smart!

Over the next several months we will be publishing a series of articles that will become A Guide to a Healthy Heart. By breaking these guidelines into chapters we are able to offer more in depth information on the topics. Watch our Facebook page or website for the latest article.

Alpine Cardiology’s goal is to give you a better understanding of how to live a healthy lifestyle and to take care of your heart. To take the mystery out of what the tests are and what they mean. To encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider about your risk factors and how to reduce your risk. The more you know and understand the more likely you are to be successful in reducing risk and having a healthier lifestyle.

Links to published chapters are below if you would like to explore the guide more.