Cholesterol in Your Blood
You may be reading this section about cholesterol because you have been
diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, or you may have been told that your
"good" cholesterol is too low, or that your "bad" cholesterol is too high.
What does all this mean?
Here are some quick definitions that may help you. You may also want to
check out the links below for more detailed information.
Total Cholesterol. This is the total measured cholesterol in your blood. This number includes all other types of cholesterol such as HDL and LDL, as defined below. High blood cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.
It is important to know your numbers. You can't tell if the cholesterol in your blood is high by how you feel. You'll need a blood test from your healthcare provider to know. If you don't know what your blood cholesterol level is, talk to your health care provider.
HDL. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The HDL cholesterol is often called "good" cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away from your body's organs and to your liver where it can be removed. To help you remember, that HDL is the "good" cholesterol, recall that the "H" stands for high and higher HDL cholesterol is good.
LDL. LDL stands low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The LDL cholesterol is sometimes called "bad" cholesterol because it's the type of cholesterol that is linked with a higher chance of heart disease. Remember that L stands for "low" and you want to keep LDL lower in your blood.
What Is High Blood Cholesterol?
Too
much cholesterol in the blood, or high blood cholesterol, can be serious.
People with high blood cholesterol have a greater chance of getting heart
disease. Cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries (blood
vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body). This
buildup of cholesterol is called plaque. Over time, plaque can cause
narrowing of the arteries.
If you've already been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol or want more information about how to prevent it, visit these links from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for more information.
-
High Blood Cholesterol
National Institute of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
This site explains what high blood cholesterol is, its signs and symptoms, and how it is diagnosed and treated. -
High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know
(PDF-195k)
NHLBI, National Cholesterol Education Program
This document explains what your cholesterol numbers mean, how to calculate your heart disease risk, and how to treat high levels of cholesterol using the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet.
Please note that these Web sites are intended for adults who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. For information about cholesterol and children, please visit the American Heart Association's Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis in Children.*
Related Information
Dietary Fat
Whether you're looking for information about monounsaturated
fat, polyunsaturated fat, saturated fat, trans fat, or cholesterol,
you'll find what you need here.
Controlling Fat in Your Diet
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommend that Americans
keep their total fat intake within certain limits.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: March 6, 2008
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
