Cholesterol level 234. Borderline High Cholesterol: Understanding and Managing a 234 mg/dL Level
What does a cholesterol level of 234 mg/dL mean. How can you lower borderline high cholesterol naturally. When should you consider medication for borderline high cholesterol. What lifestyle changes are most effective for improving cholesterol levels. How often should you get your cholesterol checked if it’s borderline high. What are the risks associated with untreated borderline high cholesterol.
Understanding Borderline High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a vital substance in our bodies, but when levels become elevated, it can pose serious health risks. A total cholesterol level of 234 mg/dL falls into the category of “borderline high cholesterol,” which ranges from 200 to 239 mg/dL. This level indicates that while your cholesterol is above the desirable range, it’s not yet in the high-risk category.
Why is a cholesterol level of 234 mg/dL concerning? At this level, you’re at an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, a condition where cholesterol builds up in your artery walls, potentially leading to heart disease and stroke. However, it’s important to note that this level also presents an opportunity for intervention before more severe health issues arise.
Components of a Cholesterol Test
To fully understand your cholesterol status, it’s crucial to look beyond just the total cholesterol number. A comprehensive lipid panel measures several components:
- Total Cholesterol: The overall amount of cholesterol in your blood
- LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): Often called “bad” cholesterol, high levels contribute to arterial plaque buildup
- HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): Known as “good” cholesterol, it helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream
- Triglycerides: Another type of fat in the blood that can contribute to heart disease when elevated
Is a single cholesterol reading of 234 mg/dL enough to determine your overall cardiovascular risk? Not necessarily. Your doctor will consider other factors, including your LDL and HDL levels, as well as other risk factors like age, family history, and lifestyle habits.
Causes of Borderline High Cholesterol
Understanding the factors that contribute to borderline high cholesterol is crucial for effective management. While some causes are within our control, others are not. Here are the primary contributors:
Diet
What foods can raise your cholesterol to borderline high levels? A diet high in saturated and trans fats is a significant contributor. These fats are commonly found in:
- Red meat and full-fat dairy products
- Fried foods
- Baked goods made with partially hydrogenated oils
- Processed snack foods
Genetics
Can your genes influence your cholesterol levels? Absolutely. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic condition that can cause high cholesterol levels from an early age. If you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, you may be more susceptible to elevated levels.
Lifestyle Factors
Several lifestyle choices can contribute to borderline high cholesterol:
- Lack of physical activity
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Being overweight or obese
Medical Conditions
Certain health conditions can affect cholesterol levels, including:
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Liver or kidney disease
Health Risks Associated with Borderline High Cholesterol
While a cholesterol level of 234 mg/dL is not in the high-risk category, it still poses potential health concerns if left unaddressed. What are the long-term consequences of untreated borderline high cholesterol?
Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Borderline high cholesterol can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, which narrows and hardens arteries. This process increases the risk of:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
Potential for Progression to High Cholesterol
Without intervention, borderline high cholesterol can escalate to high cholesterol levels, further increasing health risks. How quickly can borderline high cholesterol progress to high cholesterol? The rate varies among individuals, but factors like diet, lifestyle, and genetics play significant roles.
Diagnosing Borderline High Cholesterol
Detecting borderline high cholesterol requires regular check-ups and blood tests. How often should you get your cholesterol checked? For adults with no risk factors, the general recommendation is every 4-6 years. However, if you have borderline high cholesterol or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend more frequent testing.
Cholesterol Testing Process
What does a cholesterol test involve? The process is straightforward:
- A blood sample is taken, usually after a 9-12 hour fast
- The sample is analyzed for total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides
- Results are typically available within a few days
Interpreting Your Results
Understanding your cholesterol test results is crucial. Here’s a general guide:
- Total Cholesterol:
- Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
- Borderline high: 200-239 mg/dL
- High: 240 mg/dL and above
- LDL Cholesterol:
- Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL
- Near optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
- Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL
- High: 160-189 mg/dL
- Very high: 190 mg/dL and above
- HDL Cholesterol:
- Low: Less than 40 mg/dL (men), less than 50 mg/dL (women)
- Optimal: 60 mg/dL and above
Lifestyle Changes to Lower Borderline High Cholesterol
For many people with borderline high cholesterol, lifestyle modifications can be highly effective in bringing levels back to a healthy range. What changes can you make to lower your cholesterol naturally?
Dietary Modifications
Making smart food choices is one of the most powerful ways to improve your cholesterol profile. Which dietary changes are most effective for lowering cholesterol?
- Reduce saturated and trans fat intake
- Increase consumption of soluble fiber (found in oats, beans, and fruits)
- Incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds)
- Choose lean proteins over red meat
- Add plant sterols and stanols to your diet
Regular Physical Activity
Exercise plays a crucial role in managing cholesterol levels. How much exercise is needed to impact cholesterol? The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. Regular exercise can help:
- Increase HDL (good) cholesterol
- Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides
- Improve overall cardiovascular health
Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for cholesterol control. How does weight affect cholesterol levels? Excess weight, especially around the midsection, can increase LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. Even a modest weight loss of 5-10% can significantly improve cholesterol levels.
Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking can have a profound impact on your cholesterol levels and overall heart health. How quickly can quitting smoking improve cholesterol? HDL levels can increase within weeks of quitting, while the full benefits to your lipid profile may take several months to a year to fully manifest.
Medications for Managing Borderline High Cholesterol
While lifestyle changes are the first line of defense against borderline high cholesterol, some individuals may require medication to achieve optimal levels. When should medication be considered for borderline high cholesterol?
Statins
Statins are the most commonly prescribed medications for cholesterol management. How do statins work to lower cholesterol? They block a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol, causing your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood. Statins can lower LDL cholesterol by 20-60%.
Other Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
In addition to statins, other medications may be prescribed, including:
- Bile acid sequestrants
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
- PCSK9 inhibitors
- Fibrates
- Niacin
The choice of medication depends on various factors, including your overall health, potential side effects, and how you respond to treatment.
Monitoring and Long-Term Management
Managing borderline high cholesterol is an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring and adjustment of your treatment plan. How often should you have your cholesterol rechecked after starting treatment?
Follow-Up Testing
Your doctor will likely recommend follow-up cholesterol tests:
- Every 3-6 months after starting a new treatment
- Annually once your levels have stabilized
Adjusting Your Treatment Plan
Based on your follow-up test results and overall health status, your treatment plan may need adjustments. This could involve:
- Intensifying lifestyle modifications
- Changing medication dosages
- Adding or switching medications
Addressing Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Managing cholesterol is just one aspect of maintaining heart health. What other factors should be monitored alongside cholesterol? Your healthcare provider will also assess and manage:
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar levels
- Body weight
- Smoking status
By addressing these factors comprehensively, you can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
The Role of Supplements in Cholesterol Management
While dietary changes and medications are the primary methods for managing cholesterol, some supplements have shown promise in supporting healthy cholesterol levels. Which supplements are most effective for cholesterol management?
Fish Oil
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can help lower triglycerides and may have a modest effect on raising HDL cholesterol. How much fish oil is needed to impact cholesterol levels? Studies suggest that 2-4 grams of EPA and DHA (the active components in fish oil) daily may be beneficial.
Plant Sterols and Stanols
These naturally occurring substances can help block cholesterol absorption in the intestines. They are available as supplements and are also added to some foods. How effective are plant sterols and stanols in lowering cholesterol? Consuming 2 grams daily can lower LDL cholesterol by up to 10%.
Red Yeast Rice
This supplement contains a naturally occurring form of lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering compound. However, the FDA has warned that some red yeast rice products contain little or no active ingredient. Is red yeast rice a safe alternative to statins? While it may be effective, it’s crucial to consult with your doctor before using it, as it can have similar side effects to prescription statins.
Soluble Fiber Supplements
Psyllium, beta-glucan, and other soluble fiber supplements can help lower cholesterol by binding to cholesterol and bile acids in the intestines, promoting their excretion. How much soluble fiber is needed to impact cholesterol? Aim for 10-25 grams of soluble fiber daily for optimal cholesterol-lowering effects.
It’s important to note that while these supplements can be beneficial, they should not replace prescribed medications or lifestyle changes. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you’re taking other medications.
The Importance of a Holistic Approach to Heart Health
While managing cholesterol levels is crucial, it’s essential to view it as part of a broader strategy for maintaining cardiovascular health. How can you take a holistic approach to heart health beyond just managing cholesterol?
Stress Management
Chronic stress can contribute to high cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors. What stress-reduction techniques are most effective for heart health?
- Regular meditation or mindfulness practice
- Yoga or tai chi
- Deep breathing exercises
- Regular physical activity
- Adequate sleep
Heart-Healthy Diet Patterns
Rather than focusing solely on individual nutrients, consider adopting an overall heart-healthy eating pattern. Which diets are most beneficial for cardiovascular health?
- Mediterranean diet
- DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet
- Plant-based or flexitarian diets
These dietary patterns emphasize whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats while limiting processed foods and excessive saturated fats.
Regular Health Screenings
Monitoring your overall health is crucial for preventing cardiovascular disease. What screenings should you undergo regularly?
- Blood pressure checks
- Diabetes screening
- Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment
- Waist circumference measurement
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) as recommended by your doctor
Building a Support System
Managing your health is often easier with support. How can you create a support system for maintaining heart health?
- Join a heart health support group
- Engage family and friends in your healthy lifestyle changes
- Work with a health coach or nutritionist
- Use digital health tools and apps for tracking and motivation
By taking a comprehensive approach to heart health that includes managing cholesterol, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and regular monitoring, you can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and improve your overall well-being.
What It Is and What to Do About It
Written by Jodi Helmer
- Cholesterol Tests
- Make Changes in the Kitchen
- Read Food Labels
- Get Moving
- Lose Extra Weight
- Quit Smoking
- Check to See What’s Working
- More
Has your doctor told you that you have “borderline” high cholesterol? That means your cholesterol level is above normal but not quite in the “high” range.
You have borderline high cholesterol if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Your doctor will also consider other things, like how much of your total cholesterol is LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and how much of it is HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
Making simple changes in your lifestyle is often enough to bring borderline cholesterol levels down to the normal range. Some people may also need to take medicine for it. And keep in mind that other things, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking, also affect your heart health; it’s not just about cholesterol.
If you have borderline cholesterol, your doctor will decide whether you need treatment by looking at these and other risk factors for heart disease. They may ask you to get an imaging test of your heart called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test reveals whether dangerous plaque has built up in your heart’s arteries.
You won’t know you have borderline cholesterol unless you get a cholesterol blood test. You should do that every 5 years.
The average American has a total cholesterol level of 200, which is in the borderline range.
You can turn it around before you get high cholesterol. Start with these steps.
Why Do I Need a Cholesterol Test?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you take in more cholesterol from certain foods, such as those from animals. If you have too much cholesterol in your body, it can build up in the walls of your arteries (as “plaque”) and eventually harden.
This process, called atherosclerosis, actually narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to travel through them.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms. In later stages of atherosclerosis, though, you may have angina – severe chest pain from lack of blood flow to the heart. If an artery gets totally blocked, a heart attack results. A routine blood cholesterol test is a far better way of finding out what your cholesterol level is.
What Does a Cholesterol Test Measure?
In addition to measuring the total cholesterol in your blood, the standard cholesterol test (called a “lipid panel”) measures three specific kinds of fat:
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This is the “bad cholesterol,” the main cause of plaque buildup, which increases your risk of heart disease. In general, the lower the number, the better. But LDL cholesterol is only one part of a larger equation that measures a person’s overall risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
For years, guidelines focused on specific target numbers for people to achieve to lower their risk. The most recent guidelines focus on a person’s overall risk and, based on that risk, recommend a certain percentage of LDL reduction as one part of a way to prevent serious heart and blood vessel problems.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL). This is the “good cholesterol.” It transports bad cholesterol from the blood to the liver, where it is excreted by the body. Your HDL is another part of the equation that identifies the risk of a cardiovascular event. In general, the higher the number the better, although, as with LDL, the emphasis has shifted from specific target numbers to ways to reduce the overall risk.
Triglycerides. Another type of fat in the bloodstream, triglycerides are also linked to heart disease. They are stored in fat cells throughout the body.
What Do Cholesterol Test Numbers Mean?
If you have a lipoprotein profile, it’s important to look at all the numbers from the cholesterol test, not just the total cholesterol number.
That’s because LDL and HDL levels are two top signs of potential heart disease. Use the information below to interpret your results (with the help of your doctor, of course). This will help you get a better idea about your risk for heart disease.
Total blood cholesterol level:
- High risk: 240 mg/dL and above
- Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
- Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol levels:
190 mg/dL and above represents a high risk for heart disease and is a strong sign that you can benefit from intensive treatment, including lifestyle changes, diet, and statin therapy for reducing that risk.
For LDL levels that are equal to or less than 189 mg/dL, the guidelines recommend strategies for lowering LDL by 30% to 50%, depending on what other risk factors you have that can affect the health of your heart and blood vessels.
HDL cholesterol:
- High risk: Less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women
Triglycerides:
- Very high risk: 500 mg/dL and above
- High risk: 200-499 mg/dL
- Borderline high risk: 150-199 mg/dL
- Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
Use your diet to help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol.
For the biggest impact, choose foods that are low in saturated fats and trans fats, and high in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Whole grains, beans, apples, pears, oatmeal, salmon, walnuts, and olive oil are excellent heart-healthy choices.
Here are some more diet tips to help you lower your cholesterol:
Make meat lean. Cut back on red meats that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and choose only lean meats with very little visible fat. Examples of lean beef include London broil, eye of round, and filet mignon. Avoid processed meats like bacon and sausage, which are linked to higher odds of heart disease and diabetes.
Remove skin from poultry. That’s where much of the fat is.
Eat more seafood. It usually has less fat than other meat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish (like salmon, tuna, or mackerel) each week for heart health. Those fish are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you.
Limit saturated fat. These are found in whole-fat dairy products, mayonnaise, and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils or fats (such as stick margarine). These products may also contain trans fats, which can raise your cholesterol level.
Go liquid. For cooking, replace saturated fats that are solid at room temperature (such as butter and shortening) with liquid monounsaturated fats such as olive, canola, and flaxseed oils. There’s evidence that eating moderate amounts of monounsaturated fat – found in such foods as nuts, seeds, and avocados – may lower LDL cholesterol.
Add fiber with plant foods. Good sources include grapefruit, apples, beans and other legumes, barley, carrots, cabbage, and oatmeal.
Get two daily servings of plant sterol-rich foods. These foods, such as nuts, can help lower cholesterol. Plant sterols are also added to some soft margarines, granola bars, yogurts, and orange juice.
You need to know how much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are in your favorite foods. That can help you make better choices.
Too much saturated fat can drive up your cholesterol level. It’s found mostly in animal products. Cholesterol also is found in animal products. Your doctor or a dietitian can let you know what your daily limit should be.
Artificial trans fats can raise your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. They’re in packaged foods, like some crackers, cookies, pastries, and microwave popcorn.
Check the nutrition label. And because products marked “0 grams” of trans fats per serving can have up to a gram of trans fats, check the ingredients label, too. Anything marked “partially hydrogenated” is trans fat.
Exercise helps you get your cholesterol down from the borderline range.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, per day (150 minutes each week). You can also do a more intense workout for 75 minutes a week.
Taking a walk, riding your bike, playing a team sport, or taking a group fitness class will increase your heart rate while raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Push yourself, if you can, but keep in mind that moderate exercise is better than none at all.
You can have borderline high cholesterol and be at a healthy weight. But if you’re overweight, losing those extra pounds can help bring your cholesterol level back down.
Losing as little as 5% of your body weight can lower your cholesterol levels. One study found that adults who took part in a 12-week exercise program lowered their LDL by 18 points, and their total cholesterol dropped 26 points.
With a combination of weight loss and a healthy diet, it’s possible to lower LDL levels up to 30% – results that are similar to taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.
If you’re not sure whether your weight is in a healthy place, ask your doctor to check your body mass index (BMI). A normal BMI is 18 to 25. If your BMI is 25 or higher, ask your doctor for advice on the best types of physical activity for you.
If you smoke, kicking the habit can help raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol up to 10%.
Have you tried to quit smoking before? For many people, it takes a couple of tries. Keep trying until it sticks. It’s worth it, for your whole body’s health.
During regular screening appointments, your doctor will check your cholesterol levels to see if the changes you’ve made have gotten you to your cholesterol goal.
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower borderline high cholesterol, your doctor may talk to you about medication.
Top Picks
What It Is and What to Do About It
Written by Jodi Helmer
- Cholesterol Tests
- Make Changes in the Kitchen
- Read Food Labels
- Get Moving
- Lose Extra Weight
- Quit Smoking
- Check to See What’s Working
- More
Has your doctor told you that you have “borderline” high cholesterol? That means your cholesterol level is above normal but not quite in the “high” range.
You have borderline high cholesterol if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Your doctor will also consider other things, like how much of your total cholesterol is LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and how much of it is HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
Making simple changes in your lifestyle is often enough to bring borderline cholesterol levels down to the normal range. Some people may also need to take medicine for it. And keep in mind that other things, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking, also affect your heart health; it’s not just about cholesterol.
If you have borderline cholesterol, your doctor will decide whether you need treatment by looking at these and other risk factors for heart disease. They may ask you to get an imaging test of your heart called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test reveals whether dangerous plaque has built up in your heart’s arteries.
You won’t know you have borderline cholesterol unless you get a cholesterol blood test.
You should do that every 5 years.
The average American has a total cholesterol level of 200, which is in the borderline range.
You can turn it around before you get high cholesterol. Start with these steps.
Why Do I Need a Cholesterol Test?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you take in more cholesterol from certain foods, such as those from animals. If you have too much cholesterol in your body, it can build up in the walls of your arteries (as “plaque”) and eventually harden. This process, called atherosclerosis, actually narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to travel through them.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms. In later stages of atherosclerosis, though, you may have angina – severe chest pain from lack of blood flow to the heart. If an artery gets totally blocked, a heart attack results. A routine blood cholesterol test is a far better way of finding out what your cholesterol level is.
What Does a Cholesterol Test Measure?
In addition to measuring the total cholesterol in your blood, the standard cholesterol test (called a “lipid panel”) measures three specific kinds of fat:
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This is the “bad cholesterol,” the main cause of plaque buildup, which increases your risk of heart disease. In general, the lower the number, the better. But LDL cholesterol is only one part of a larger equation that measures a person’s overall risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
For years, guidelines focused on specific target numbers for people to achieve to lower their risk. The most recent guidelines focus on a person’s overall risk and, based on that risk, recommend a certain percentage of LDL reduction as one part of a way to prevent serious heart and blood vessel problems.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL). This is the “good cholesterol.” It transports bad cholesterol from the blood to the liver, where it is excreted by the body.
Your HDL is another part of the equation that identifies the risk of a cardiovascular event. In general, the higher the number the better, although, as with LDL, the emphasis has shifted from specific target numbers to ways to reduce the overall risk.
Triglycerides. Another type of fat in the bloodstream, triglycerides are also linked to heart disease. They are stored in fat cells throughout the body.
What Do Cholesterol Test Numbers Mean?
If you have a lipoprotein profile, it’s important to look at all the numbers from the cholesterol test, not just the total cholesterol number. That’s because LDL and HDL levels are two top signs of potential heart disease. Use the information below to interpret your results (with the help of your doctor, of course). This will help you get a better idea about your risk for heart disease.
Total blood cholesterol level:
- High risk: 240 mg/dL and above
- Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
- Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol levels:
190 mg/dL and above represents a high risk for heart disease and is a strong sign that you can benefit from intensive treatment, including lifestyle changes, diet, and statin therapy for reducing that risk.
For LDL levels that are equal to or less than 189 mg/dL, the guidelines recommend strategies for lowering LDL by 30% to 50%, depending on what other risk factors you have that can affect the health of your heart and blood vessels.
HDL cholesterol:
- High risk: Less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women
Triglycerides:
- Very high risk: 500 mg/dL and above
- High risk: 200-499 mg/dL
- Borderline high risk: 150-199 mg/dL
- Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
Use your diet to help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol.
For the biggest impact, choose foods that are low in saturated fats and trans fats, and high in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Whole grains, beans, apples, pears, oatmeal, salmon, walnuts, and olive oil are excellent heart-healthy choices.
Here are some more diet tips to help you lower your cholesterol:
Make meat lean.
Cut back on red meats that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and choose only lean meats with very little visible fat. Examples of lean beef include London broil, eye of round, and filet mignon. Avoid processed meats like bacon and sausage, which are linked to higher odds of heart disease and diabetes.
Remove skin from poultry. That’s where much of the fat is.
Eat more seafood. It usually has less fat than other meat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish (like salmon, tuna, or mackerel) each week for heart health. Those fish are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you.
Limit saturated fat. These are found in whole-fat dairy products, mayonnaise, and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils or fats (such as stick margarine). These products may also contain trans fats, which can raise your cholesterol level.
Go liquid. For cooking, replace saturated fats that are solid at room temperature (such as butter and shortening) with liquid monounsaturated fats such as olive, canola, and flaxseed oils.
There’s evidence that eating moderate amounts of monounsaturated fat – found in such foods as nuts, seeds, and avocados – may lower LDL cholesterol.
Add fiber with plant foods. Good sources include grapefruit, apples, beans and other legumes, barley, carrots, cabbage, and oatmeal.
Get two daily servings of plant sterol-rich foods. These foods, such as nuts, can help lower cholesterol. Plant sterols are also added to some soft margarines, granola bars, yogurts, and orange juice.
You need to know how much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are in your favorite foods. That can help you make better choices.
Too much saturated fat can drive up your cholesterol level. It’s found mostly in animal products. Cholesterol also is found in animal products. Your doctor or a dietitian can let you know what your daily limit should be.
Artificial trans fats can raise your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. They’re in packaged foods, like some crackers, cookies, pastries, and microwave popcorn.
Check the nutrition label. And because products marked “0 grams” of trans fats per serving can have up to a gram of trans fats, check the ingredients label, too. Anything marked “partially hydrogenated” is trans fat.
Exercise helps you get your cholesterol down from the borderline range.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, per day (150 minutes each week). You can also do a more intense workout for 75 minutes a week.
Taking a walk, riding your bike, playing a team sport, or taking a group fitness class will increase your heart rate while raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Push yourself, if you can, but keep in mind that moderate exercise is better than none at all.
You can have borderline high cholesterol and be at a healthy weight. But if you’re overweight, losing those extra pounds can help bring your cholesterol level back down.
Losing as little as 5% of your body weight can lower your cholesterol levels.
One study found that adults who took part in a 12-week exercise program lowered their LDL by 18 points, and their total cholesterol dropped 26 points.
With a combination of weight loss and a healthy diet, it’s possible to lower LDL levels up to 30% – results that are similar to taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.
If you’re not sure whether your weight is in a healthy place, ask your doctor to check your body mass index (BMI). A normal BMI is 18 to 25. If your BMI is 25 or higher, ask your doctor for advice on the best types of physical activity for you.
If you smoke, kicking the habit can help raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol up to 10%.
Have you tried to quit smoking before? For many people, it takes a couple of tries. Keep trying until it sticks. It’s worth it, for your whole body’s health.
During regular screening appointments, your doctor will check your cholesterol levels to see if the changes you’ve made have gotten you to your cholesterol goal.
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower borderline high cholesterol, your doctor may talk to you about medication.
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- Laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters in INVITRO
- Lipid profile: fasting or not fasting
- Assessment of the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and their complications according to the modified SCORE scale.
- Atherosclerosis risk assessment.
- Detection of dyslipidemias.
- Primary hereditary hypercholesterolemia (hyperlipoproteinemia types IA and IIB types).
- Obesity.
- Obstructive jaundice.
- Nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Cushing’s syndrome.
- Cholesterol-rich diet.
- Pregnancy.
- Anorexia nervosa.
- Taking medications (beta-blockers, diuretics, progestins, oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, androgens).
- Atherosclerosis.
- Familial hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia (Tangier’s disease).
- Cholestasis, chronic liver disease.
- Nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Obesity.
- Smoking.
- Taking medications: beta-blockers, danazol, diuretics, progestins, androgens.
- Diet rich in carbohydrates or polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- smoke, abuse alcohol, eat foods rich in animal fats;
- over the age of 45;
- are overweight and move little;
- suffer from diabetes;
- suffer from coronary heart disease, have had a previous myocardial infarction or stroke;
- with blood pressure readings of 140/90 or higher;
- have a family history of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, heart attacks or strokes.
View of a practical oncologist. Laboratory justifications. 9001 5
The cost of analyzes is indicated without taking biomaterial
All sections
Description
Method of determination
Homogeneous enzymatic colorimetric.
Test material
Blood serum
Synonyms : High density lipoproteins; HDL; HDL; HDL cholesterol; alpha cholesterol; α-cholesterol. High density lipoprotein cholesterol; high density lipoprotein; Alpha-Lipoprotein Cholesterol; α-lipoprotein cholesterol; α-Lp cholesterol; HDL; HDL-C; HDL Cholesterol.
Brief description of the analyte Cholesterol-HDL
Blood lipoproteins transport lipids, including cholesterol, from one cell population to another.
Unlike other lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) carry cholesterol from the cells of peripheral organs (including heart vessels, brain arteries, etc.) to the liver, where cholesterol is converted into bile acids and excreted from the body. In women, on average, HDL values are higher than in men.
The level of HDL cholesterol in combination with data on existing diseases, age, gender, blood pressure, the fact of smoking, is taken into account when assessing the individual risk of developing severe complications of cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction or stroke) in the modified SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation) scale ).
High HDL cholesterol is considered to be a beneficial anti-atherogenic factor that reduces cardiovascular risk. Low HDL cholesterol reflects the risk of premature atherosclerosis, a high risk of cardiovascular disease, and is often associated with hypertriglyceridemia in metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
For more information on the laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters, please click here.
What is the purpose of determining the level of cholesterol-HDL in blood serum?
Determination of HDL cholesterol in blood serum is used in combination with other lipid profile tests to assess cardiorisk (reflects the content of “good cholesterol”). Increased levels are associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis.
What can affect the HDL cholesterol test result
A change in diet can reduce blood cholesterol levels by 10-15%, although sensitivity to changes in dietary cholesterol levels and the effect of diet on cholesterol levels can be expressed differently in different people. To reduce the risk of complications of cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to maintain the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood below 5.0 mmol / l. The therapeutic goal of lipid-lowering therapy is to lower LDL cholesterol levels.
Disorders of cholesterol metabolism, accompanied by an increase in its content in the blood, are characteristic of hypothyroidism.
Secondary hypercholesterolemia is also observed in hepatic cholestasis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure, gout, diabetes and other diseases. Before starting therapy with lipid-lowering drugs, diseases that lead to an increase in cholesterol levels should be excluded.
Cholesterol level reflects the activity of synthesis processes in the liver. In severe liver damage, there is a significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Acute tissue injury also causes a marked drop in total and LDL cholesterol levels. It begins within the first day after a heart attack, surgery or septicemia and can reach a 40% reduction from baseline. Lipid levels do not return to normal for up to three months. Therefore, a lipid study to assess the risk of atherosclerosis should not be performed within three months after acute conditions.
More details about the laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters can be found here.
Preparation
Rules for preparing for a blood test to determine the level of HDL-Cholesterol
Strictly on an empty stomach, after an overnight fasting period of 8 to 14 hours.
On the eve of the study, it is necessary to exclude increased psycho-emotional and physical activity (sports training), alcohol intake.
Indications for use
In what cases is a blood test to determine the level of HDL-Cholesterol
Interpretation of results
Interpretation of test results contains information for the attending physician and is not a diagnosis. The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. An accurate diagnosis is made by the doctor, using both the results of this examination and the necessary information from other sources: history, results of other examinations, etc.
Interpretation of the results of determining the level of Cholesterol-HDL in blood serum
Units of measurement : mmol/l.
Alternate units : mg/dl.
Unit conversion : mg/dL x 0.026 ==> mmol/L.
Adults. When assessing cardiac risk, an HDL cholesterol level greater than 1.0 mmol/L in men and greater than 1.2 mmol/L in women indicates low risk. Low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with higher cardiovascular risk.
Reference values (population dispersion) HDL cholesterol concentrations for children and adolescents
Age | HDL cholesterol level, mmol/l | |
| Men | Women | 0.93 – 1.89 |
| 10 – 15 years | 0.96 – 1.91 | 0.96 – 1.81 |
| 15 – 18 years old | 0.78 – 1.63 | 0.91 – 1.91 |
Data on the population dispersion of HDL-cholesterol values in adults –
, see here .
Increased level
Lower level
Questions
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In this section you can find out how much it costs to complete this study in your city, read the description of the test and the table for interpreting the results. When choosing where to take the HDL-Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol) test in the Ob and other cities of Russia, do not forget that the price of the analysis, the cost of the biomaterial taking procedure, methods and terms for performing studies in regional medical offices may differ.
Cholesterol total – get tested in St. Petersburg
Code: 141
Analysis available:
Medical center at Bogatyrsky pr., 4Laboratory terminal at Aleksandrovskaya Fermy avenue, 8Laboratory terminal at Nastavnikov avenue, 36k2Laboratory terminal at ul.
Budapestskaya, 6Medical center on Pulkovskoye shosse, 28A Medical center on Kondratievsky prospect, 62k3Medical center on Prosveshcheniya avenue, 14k4Medical center on Moiseenko, 5Laboratory terminal on the street. Oleko Dundicha, 8, room 2Laboratory terminal on the street. Pestelya, 25AMedical center on Leninsky prospect, 88Medical center on Okhtinskaya alley, 4 (Murino, Leningrad region)Laboratory terminal on the street. Turku, 5/13 St. Petersburg, Exit serviceMedical center on the street. Savushkina, 14
Price:
280 ₽
Add to cart
The price does not include the cost
Cholesterol (otherwise, cholesterol) is a fat-like substance involved in the construction of organ cell membranes, the synthesis of steroid hormones, and the absorption of fats in the intestine. However, with an increase in the content of cholesterol in the blood, there is a risk of the formation of cholesterol plaques in the vessels, which leads to disturbances in blood circulation up to blockage of the lumen of the vessel.
As a result, organ ischemia occurs, with a high risk of stroke and heart attack.
In the blood, cholesterol is present in the form of a fat-protein complex – lipoprotein. There are several types of lipoproteins: high, low and very low density. The density of lipoproteins depends on the proportion of proteins and cholesterol in the composition. It is believed that high-density lipoproteins are “good” cholesterol, it does not participate in the formation of plaques in the vessels, and low-density lipoproteins are directly involved in their formation.
The analysis for total cholesterol includes measurements of the total amount of cholesterol, in the composition of all lipoproteins.
Method of determination
Colorimetric photometry.
Test material
Venous or capillary blood is taken for analysis.
Deadline
1 day.
Indications
An analysis for total cholesterol is taken to assess the likelihood of atherosclerosis and, as a result, problems with the blood supply to the heart.
The analysis is indicated for patients at risk for the development of coronary diseases. These include patients who:
This analysis is also prescribed for children 2-10 years old, if there have been cases of heart disease in the family.
All patients older than 20 years of age should be screened at least once every five years at a health screening.
In cases where the patient has been prescribed a low-fat diet or is taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, the analysis will show the dynamics of changes in cholesterol levels.
Preparation for analysis
An analysis for total cholesterol is taken by relatively healthy people. If the patient has suffered a heart attack, left the acute phase of the disease, he underwent surgery – you can donate blood for cholesterol no earlier than six weeks later.
Before donating blood, you can not eat 12 hours before the analysis, you can drink water, do not smoke for half an hour, exclude mental and physical overload. Within three days before the test, the use of alcohol and fatty foods is prohibited.
Synonyms: Cholesterol, cholesterol / Blood cholesterol, Cholesterol, Chol, Cholesterol total
Equipment: AU/5800/680/480/Beckman Coulter
The norm is considered to be <5.2 mmol / l.
However, it is worth considering that the norm depends on a combination of factors affecting a person in each individual case. Therefore, in order to determine the likelihood of developing heart pathologies, it is necessary to calculate the risks individually.
As a rule, the SCORE scale (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) is used for this purpose.
* For current information, please contact the contact center at tel. 8 (812) 600-42-00
It is recommended to donate blood strictly on an empty stomach (12-14 hours of fasting). Drinking – water, as usual. Within three days, exclude alcohol intake, do not abuse fatty foods. Stop smoking 1 hour before the study.
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The analysis is available in these centers:
Medical center on Bogatyrsky pr.
, 4
Medical center on the street. Moiseenko, 5
Medical center on Prosveshcheniya avenue, 14k4
Medical center on the street. Savushkina, 14
Laboratory terminal on the street. Turku, 5/13
Medical center on Okhtinskaya alley, 4 (Murino, Leningrad region)
Laboratory terminal on the street.
Pestelya, 25A
Laboratory terminal on the street. Oleko Dundicha, 8, building 2
Laboratory terminal on the street. Budapestskaya, 6
Medical center at Pulkovskoe shosse, 28A
Laboratory terminal at Nastavnikov Ave., 36k2
Laboratory terminal at Aleksandrovskaya Ferma avenue, 8
Medical center on Leninsky pr.
, 88
Medical center on Kondratievsky prospect, 62k3
ORTOKROSS clinic on the 5th line of V.O., 8A (official partner)
Laboratory terminal at Kronverksky pr., 31 (official partner)
Clinic “PulkovoStom” on Pulkovskoye shosse, 26, building 6. (official partner)
Laboratory terminal on the street.