What is a Normal Cholesterol Level?Every time you turn on the television these days, you're most certainly going to see a commercial about some sort of cholesterol medication that helps people maintain a normal cholesterol level. For those who can't keep their cholesterol levels within a normal range through regular exercise and a well balanced diet, medication is necessary to help prevent the damage that can accrue due to high cholesterol. While keeping your cholesterol within a normal range can help prevent heart attack and stroke, it won't prevent one, as such are results of more than one condition. Still, you may help to reduce your risks in at least one aspect if you maintain a normal cholesterol level, and we need all the help we can get. Medical studies that have been followed over the past two decades prove that maintaining a normal cholesterol level shows obvious health benefits. Cholesterol is necessary for normal body functions, but too much of it can cause damage to arteries and other blood vessels throughout the body. Too much cholesterol can stick and build up on artery walls, blocking free flow of oxygenated blood to necessary organs and tissues. There are two main types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and LDL (low-density lipoproteins). HDL is considered a good, or a 'happy' HDL, as it helps keep arteries open by disposing of excess LDL (the bad cholesterol). Excess cholesterol is obtained through the foods we eat, and foods high in fat make it harder for the good cholesterol to get rid of in the body. Eventually, the good cholesterol can't keep up with the high fat intake and buildup or plaque will begin to develop in arteries that supply oxygen to vital organs like the heart and brain. A normal cholesterol level is a reading of 200 or under. You are considered to be borderline high if your reading is anywhere from 200 to 239 and high if that number goes over 240. When you get your cholesterol reading from your doctor, he will also tell you what your HDL cholesterol reading is. Remember, HDL is the good, or 'happy' cholesterol. A high reading for an HDL is actually a good thing, as it indicates that levels are productive in removing the bad cholesterol from your blood. A normal cholesterol reading for HDL is 60 or above. If it's 40 or below, it means there's not enough HDL in your blood to fight buildup and plaque and you will be considered at 'risk' of vessel damage and even stroke or heart attack. Your doctor will also mention your triglyceride levels. A normal triglyceride level is anything under 150. Numbers ranging from 150 to 199 are considered borderline high and anything between 200 and 499 are considered high. If your triglyceride level is over 500, you're considered to be at a very high-risk category for heart attack or stroke. A normal cholesterol level is optimum for healthy body functions, so it's important to track your numbers, at least once every few years to see where you fall in the scale. |
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