LDL Cholesterol 165: Understanding Risks and Effective Management Strategies
What are the health implications of an LDL cholesterol level of 165. How can individuals effectively lower their LDL cholesterol. What lifestyle changes and medical interventions are recommended for managing high LDL levels.
Decoding LDL Cholesterol: The Silent Threat to Cardiovascular Health
LDL cholesterol, often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, plays a significant role in our overall health. At a level of 165 mg/dL, it falls into the “high” category according to standard guidelines. This elevation can pose serious risks to cardiovascular health, making it crucial to understand its implications and management strategies.
LDL, which stands for low-density lipoprotein, is a tiny particle composed of an outer rim of lipoprotein encasing a cholesterol center. While cholesterol is essential for various bodily functions, including nerve protection and hormone production, excessive LDL cholesterol can lead to its accumulation in blood vessel walls, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The LDL vs. HDL Balance
To fully grasp the significance of LDL cholesterol, it’s important to understand its relationship with HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. HDL is often called the “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the bloodstream, transporting it to the liver for disposal. A healthy balance between LDL and HDL is crucial for maintaining optimal cardiovascular health.
Assessing LDL Cholesterol Levels: What Do the Numbers Mean?
When it comes to LDL cholesterol levels, lower numbers are generally better. Here’s a breakdown of the standard guidelines for adults in the United States:
- Less than 100 mg/dL: Optimal
- 100-129 mg/dL: Near or above optimal
- 130-159 mg/dL: Borderline high
- 160-189 mg/dL: High
- 190 mg/dL and above: Very high
With an LDL cholesterol level of 165 mg/dL, an individual falls into the “high” category. This classification signals the need for proactive measures to reduce LDL levels and mitigate associated health risks.
Individualized LDL Targets
It’s worth noting that for individuals with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, healthcare providers might recommend even lower LDL targets, sometimes aiming for 70 mg/dL or below. This underscores the importance of personalized healthcare and regular consultations with medical professionals.
The Hidden Dangers of Elevated LDL Cholesterol
High LDL cholesterol levels can significantly increase the risk of several serious health conditions. These include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Heart disease, including chest pain (angina) and heart attack
- Stroke
Understanding these risks is crucial for motivating individuals to take action and manage their LDL cholesterol levels effectively.
Beyond the Numbers: Assessing Cardiovascular Risk
Modern healthcare approaches have shifted from focusing solely on lowering LDL to a specific number. Instead, healthcare providers now often work with patients to reduce LDL levels by a certain percentage based on the individual’s overall cardiovascular risk profile.
Doctors use specialized calculators to estimate the likelihood of heart disease or stroke in the next 10 years. These calculations take into account various factors, including:
- Cholesterol levels
- Age
- Blood pressure
- Smoking status
- Use of blood pressure medications
Additional risk factors that may be considered include diabetes and family history of heart disease. This comprehensive approach allows for more personalized and effective management strategies.
Lifestyle Modifications: The First Line of Defense Against High LDL
For individuals with an LDL cholesterol level of 165 mg/dL, lifestyle modifications are often the first step in management. These changes can have a significant impact on lowering LDL levels and improving overall cardiovascular health.
Dietary Changes for LDL Reduction
A heart-healthy diet is crucial for managing LDL cholesterol. Key dietary recommendations include:
- Limiting foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol
- Reducing intake of simple carbohydrates, including sugar and white flour
- Increasing consumption of fiber-rich foods
- Incorporating plant sterols, found in foods like margarine and nuts
Can specific foods significantly lower LDL cholesterol? Yes, certain foods have been shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. These include oats, barley, beans, eggplant, okra, nuts, vegetable oils, apples, grapes, strawberries, and citrus fruits.
The Power of Regular Exercise
Physical activity plays a crucial role in managing LDL cholesterol levels. Regular aerobic exercise that elevates heart rate is particularly beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week.
How does exercise impact LDL cholesterol? Regular physical activity can help increase HDL cholesterol while reducing LDL and triglycerides. It also promotes weight loss, which can further contribute to improved cholesterol profiles.
Weight Management: A Key Factor in LDL Control
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for managing LDL cholesterol levels. Even modest weight loss can have a significant impact on cholesterol levels and overall cardiovascular health.
What amount of weight loss can improve cholesterol levels? Losing just 5 to 10 pounds can lead to noticeable improvements in cholesterol levels. This underscores the importance of sustainable weight management strategies as part of a comprehensive approach to lowering LDL cholesterol.
The Impact of Smoking Cessation
For individuals who smoke, quitting is a crucial step in managing LDL cholesterol and reducing overall cardiovascular risk. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels while increasing the risk of blood clots and damage to blood vessel walls.
How quickly can quitting smoking improve cholesterol levels? The benefits of smoking cessation on cholesterol levels can be observed within weeks of quitting. HDL levels may increase by up to 10% within a year of quitting smoking.
Medical Interventions for Managing High LDL Cholesterol
When lifestyle modifications alone are insufficient to bring LDL cholesterol to target levels, medical interventions may be necessary. Healthcare providers have several pharmaceutical options at their disposal to help manage high LDL cholesterol.
Statins: The First-Line Medication
Statins are often the first choice for lowering LDL cholesterol through medication. These drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme involved in cholesterol production in the liver.
How effective are statins in lowering LDL cholesterol? Statins can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 20% to 60%, depending on the specific medication and dosage. They have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in individuals with high cholesterol.
Alternative Medications
For individuals who cannot tolerate statins or require additional intervention, other medication options include:
- Ezetimibe (Zetia): Reduces cholesterol absorption from food
- PCSK9 inhibitors: Injectable medications that help the liver remove more LDL from the blood
- Bile acid sequestrants: Bind to bile acids in the intestines, indirectly lowering cholesterol levels
- Fibrates: Primarily used to lower triglycerides, but can also help increase HDL levels
The choice of medication depends on individual factors, including overall health status, potential side effects, and treatment goals.
Monitoring and Long-Term Management of LDL Cholesterol
Managing LDL cholesterol is an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring and adjustments to treatment strategies. Regular blood tests are essential for tracking progress and ensuring that interventions are effective.
Frequency of Cholesterol Testing
How often should cholesterol levels be checked? For most adults, experts recommend cholesterol testing every 4 to 6 years. However, individuals with risk factors or pre-existing conditions may require more frequent testing, sometimes annually or even more often.
Regular check-ups allow healthcare providers to assess the effectiveness of current management strategies and make necessary adjustments. This may involve modifying lifestyle interventions, adjusting medication dosages, or exploring alternative treatment options.
The Role of Comprehensive Lipid Profiles
While LDL cholesterol is a crucial marker, it’s important to consider the entire lipid profile for a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular risk. This includes measuring:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Non-HDL cholesterol
Understanding the interplay between these different lipid components provides a more nuanced picture of an individual’s cardiovascular health and helps guide treatment decisions.
Emerging Research and Future Directions in LDL Management
The field of lipid management is constantly evolving, with ongoing research exploring new strategies for managing LDL cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk. Some areas of active investigation include:
Novel Pharmaceutical Approaches
Researchers are exploring new classes of medications that target different aspects of lipid metabolism. These include:
- RNA interference therapies that reduce the production of proteins involved in LDL formation
- Drugs that target specific genetic mutations associated with high cholesterol
- Combination therapies that simultaneously address multiple aspects of lipid metabolism
What potential do these new approaches hold? While many of these therapies are still in development, they show promise in providing more targeted and effective treatments for managing LDL cholesterol, particularly in individuals with genetic predispositions to high cholesterol or those who don’t respond well to current treatments.
Personalized Medicine in Lipid Management
Advances in genetic testing and biomarker analysis are paving the way for more personalized approaches to managing LDL cholesterol. This may involve tailoring treatment strategies based on an individual’s genetic profile, lifestyle factors, and specific risk markers.
How might personalized medicine impact LDL management? By identifying specific genetic variants or biomarkers associated with cholesterol metabolism, healthcare providers may be able to predict an individual’s response to different interventions more accurately. This could lead to more efficient and effective treatment strategies, minimizing side effects and maximizing benefits.
Empowering Patients: The Importance of Education and Self-Management
Effective management of LDL cholesterol requires active participation from patients. Education plays a crucial role in empowering individuals to take control of their cardiovascular health.
Understanding Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Patients should be educated about the risk factors for high LDL cholesterol and the potential warning signs of cardiovascular disease. This knowledge can motivate individuals to adhere to treatment plans and make necessary lifestyle changes.
What are some early warning signs of cardiovascular disease? While high LDL cholesterol itself often doesn’t cause symptoms, signs of underlying cardiovascular disease may include chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, or fatigue. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention is crucial.
Strategies for Long-Term Adherence
Maintaining healthy habits and adhering to treatment plans over the long term can be challenging. Strategies to promote adherence include:
- Setting realistic and achievable goals
- Using technology, such as smartphone apps, to track progress and provide reminders
- Seeking support from family, friends, or support groups
- Regular follow-ups with healthcare providers to address concerns and celebrate progress
By empowering patients with knowledge and tools for self-management, healthcare providers can help ensure better outcomes in managing LDL cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk.
Definition, Risks, and How to Lower It
Written by Matthew Hoffman, MD
- What Is LDL?
- LDL vs. HDL
- High LDL Cholesterol Diagnosis
- Risks of High LDL Cholesterol
- How to Lower High LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is often called the “bad” cholesterol because it collects in the walls of your blood vessels, raising your chances of health problems like a heart attack or stroke.
But cholesterol isn’t all dangerous. Your body needs it to protect its nerves and make healthy cells and hormones.
Some cholesterol comes from the food you eat, and your liver makes more. It won’t dissolve in blood, so proteins carry it where it needs to go. These carriers are called lipoproteins.
LDL is a tiny blob made up of an outer rim of lipoprotein with a cholesterol center. Its full name is “low-density lipoprotein.”
Most of the cholesterol in your body is LDL. The rest is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. HDL takes LDL to your liver, where it’s flushed out of your body. High HDL levels might protect against heart attacks and strokes.
A blood test can check your LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels. It also measures triglycerides, a type of fat that stores extra energy from your diet. High triglyceride levels can make you more likely to have heart problems.
Experts recommend testing every 4 to 6 years. You’ll probably need it more often if you have heart disease or diabetes, or if high cholesterol runs in your family.
Lower numbers are better when it comes to LDL cholesterol test results. The general guidelines for adults in the United States are:
- Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL): Optimal
- 100-129 mg/dL: Near or above optimal
- 130-159 mg/dL: Borderline high
- 160-189 mg/dL: High
- 190 mg/dL and above: Very high
If you have a condition like heart disease or diabetes, your doctor might recommend an LDL target of 70 mg/dL or below.
High LDL cholesterol levels can make you more likely to have problems including:
- Coronary artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Heart disease, including chest pain (angina) and heart attack
- Stroke
Guidelines used to focus on lowering “bad” cholesterol to a specific number. Now, you and your doctor will probably work together to come up with a way to lower it by a certain percentage. It’s based on how likely it is that you’ll have heart disease or a stroke.
Doctors use a calculator to estimate your odds of those problems in the next 10 years. The calculator considers several things, including:
- Your cholesterol level
- Your age
- Your blood pressure
- Whether you smoke
- Whether you take blood pressure medicine
All of these things affect your chance of having a heart problem. Other risks include:
- Diabetes
- A history of heart disease in your family
Your doctor will set up a plan of lifestyle changes and/or medication that can lower your cholesterol levels and your overall odds of a heart problem.
Your plan might include:
- A healthy diet. Try not to eat things that are high in saturated fat, cholesterol, or simple carbs such as sugar and white flour. Eat more fiber and plant sterols such as margarine or nuts.
- Regular exercise. The kind that gets your heart pumping is best.
- Weight loss. Losing even 5 to 10 pounds can improve your cholesterol levels.
- Quitting tobacco. If you have a hard time giving up smoking, your doctor can help you find the program that’s best for you.
- Medication. Some drugs, like statins, help keep your body from making cholesterol. Another, ezetimibe (Zetia), lowers the amount of cholesterol your body gets from food you eat. If you can’t take statins or have a severe form of high cholesterol, you might get shots of PCSK9 inhibitors. These meds help your liver remove more LDL from your blood.
Top Picks
Definition, Risks, and How to Lower It
Written by Matthew Hoffman, MD
- What Is LDL?
- LDL vs. HDL
- High LDL Cholesterol Diagnosis
- Risks of High LDL Cholesterol
- How to Lower High LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is often called the “bad” cholesterol because it collects in the walls of your blood vessels, raising your chances of health problems like a heart attack or stroke.
But cholesterol isn’t all dangerous. Your body needs it to protect its nerves and make healthy cells and hormones.
Some cholesterol comes from the food you eat, and your liver makes more. It won’t dissolve in blood, so proteins carry it where it needs to go. These carriers are called lipoproteins.
LDL is a tiny blob made up of an outer rim of lipoprotein with a cholesterol center. Its full name is “low-density lipoprotein.”
Most of the cholesterol in your body is LDL. The rest is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. HDL takes LDL to your liver, where it’s flushed out of your body. High HDL levels might protect against heart attacks and strokes.
A blood test can check your LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels. It also measures triglycerides, a type of fat that stores extra energy from your diet. High triglyceride levels can make you more likely to have heart problems.
Experts recommend testing every 4 to 6 years. You’ll probably need it more often if you have heart disease or diabetes, or if high cholesterol runs in your family.
Lower numbers are better when it comes to LDL cholesterol test results. The general guidelines for adults in the United States are:
- Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL): Optimal
- 100-129 mg/dL: Near or above optimal
- 130-159 mg/dL: Borderline high
- 160-189 mg/dL: High
- 190 mg/dL and above: Very high
If you have a condition like heart disease or diabetes, your doctor might recommend an LDL target of 70 mg/dL or below.
High LDL cholesterol levels can make you more likely to have problems including:
- Coronary artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Heart disease, including chest pain (angina) and heart attack
- Stroke
Guidelines used to focus on lowering “bad” cholesterol to a specific number. Now, you and your doctor will probably work together to come up with a way to lower it by a certain percentage. It’s based on how likely it is that you’ll have heart disease or a stroke.
Doctors use a calculator to estimate your odds of those problems in the next 10 years. The calculator considers several things, including:
- Your cholesterol level
- Your age
- Your blood pressure
- Whether you smoke
- Whether you take blood pressure medicine
All of these things affect your chance of having a heart problem. Other risks include:
- Diabetes
- A history of heart disease in your family
Your doctor will set up a plan of lifestyle changes and/or medication that can lower your cholesterol levels and your overall odds of a heart problem. Your plan might include:
- A healthy diet. Try not to eat things that are high in saturated fat, cholesterol, or simple carbs such as sugar and white flour. Eat more fiber and plant sterols such as margarine or nuts.
- Regular exercise. The kind that gets your heart pumping is best.
- Weight loss. Losing even 5 to 10 pounds can improve your cholesterol levels.
- Quitting tobacco. If you have a hard time giving up smoking, your doctor can help you find the program that’s best for you.
- Medication. Some drugs, like statins, help keep your body from making cholesterol. Another, ezetimibe (Zetia), lowers the amount of cholesterol your body gets from food you eat. If you can’t take statins or have a severe form of high cholesterol, you might get shots of PCSK9 inhibitors. These meds help your liver remove more LDL from your blood.
Top Picks
Take a blood test for LDL cholesterol
I confirm
More
org/BreadcrumbList”>- Examination program for office workers
- Cardiovascular risk assessment
- Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
- COVID-19
- Assessment of liver function
- Diagnosis of kidney and genitourinary system
- Diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract
- Diagnosis of connective tissue diseases tissues
- Diagnostics of diabetes mellitus
- Diagnostics of anemias
- Oncology
- Diagnostics and control of osteoporosis therapy
- Blood biochemistry
- Diagnostics of the thyroid gland
- Hospital profiles
- Healthy you – healthy country
- Gynecology, reproduction
- Healthy child: for children from 0 to 14 years old
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Weight problems
- VIP examinations
- Diseases respiratory system
- Allergy
- Determination of micronutrient reserves in the body
- Beauty
- Vitamins
- Diets
- Laboratory tests before diet
- Sports profiles
- Hormonal studies for men
- Depression
- Biochemical studies
- Glucose and metabolite s of carbohydrate metabolism
- Proteins and amino acids
- Bile pigments and acids
- Lipids
- Enzymes
- Markers kidney function
- Inorganic substances/electrolytes:
- Vitamins
- Proteins involved in iron metabolism
- Cardiospecific proteins
- Inflammation markers
- Markers of bone metabolism and osteoporosis
- Drug and psychoactive substance detection
- Biogenic amines
- Specific proteins
9 0015
- Hormonal studies
- Laboratory evaluation of the pituitary-adrenal system
- Laboratory evaluation somatotropic function of the pituitary gland
- Laboratory assessment of thyroid function
- Assessment of parathyroid function
- Pituitary gonadotropic hormones and prolactin
- Estrogens and progestins
- Assessment of androgenic function
- Non-steroidal regulatory factors of the sex glands
- Monito pregnancy ring, biochemical markers of fetal condition
- Laboratory evaluation of pancreatic endocrine function and diagnosis of diabetes
- Biogenic amines
- Laboratory evaluation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
- Factors involved in the regulation of appetite and fat metabolism
- Laboratory assessment of endocrine function of the gastrointestinal tract
- Laboratory assessment of hormonal regulation of erythropoiesis
- Laboratory assessment of pineal function
9 0017 Healthy lifestyle tests
- Biochemical studies
- Hematological tests
- Clinical tests blood tests
- Immunohematological studies
- Coagulological studies (coagulogram)
- Immunological studies
- Lymphocytes, subpopulations
- Immunoglobulins
- Complement components
- Regulators and mediators of immunity
9000 6
- Allergological tests
- IgE – allergen-specific (allergy tests), mixtures, panels, total IgE.
- IgG, allergen-specific
- ImmunoCAP Technology
- AlcorBio Technology
- ALEX Technology
- IgE – allergen-specific (allergy tests), mixtures, panels, total IgE.
- Autoimmune disease markers
- Systemic connective tissue diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis, joint damage
- Antiphospholipid syndrome
- Vasculitis and kidney damage
- Autoimmune lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Celiac disease
- Autoimmune liver diseases
- Neurological autoimmune diseases
- Autoimmune endocrinopathies
- Autoimmune skin diseases
- Lung and heart diseases
- Immune thrombocytopenia
- Tumor markers
- COVID-19
- Trace elements
- Aluminum
- Barium
- Beryllium
- Boron
- Vanadium
- Bismuth
- Tungsten
- Gallium
- Germanium
- Iron
- Gold
- Iodine
- Cadmium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Cobalt
- Silicon
- Lanthanum
- Lithium
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Copper
- Molybdenum
- Arsenic
- Sodium
- Nickel
- Tin 9000 6
- Platinum
- Mercury
- Rubidium
- Lead
- Selenium
- Silver
- Strontium
- Antimony
900 17 Thallium
- Phosphorus
- Chromium
- Zinc
- Zirconium
- Clinical analysis of urine
- Biochemical analysis of urine
- Clinical analysis of feces
- Biochemical analysis of feces
- Antisperm antibodies
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections
- Fungal infections
- Parasitic infections
- TORCH infections (complex)
- Streptococcal infection
- Lifestyle and genetic factors
- Reproductive health
- Immunogenetics
- Rh factor
- Blood coagulation system
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
- Diseases of the central nervous system
- Oncological diseases
- Metabolic disorders
- Description of the results of genetic studies by a geneticist
- Pharmacogenetics
- System for detoxification of xenobiotics and carcinogens
- Fetal sex determination
- Rh- fetal factor
- Hereditary metabolic diseases
- Additional studies (after screening and consultation with a specialist)
- Determination of biological relationship in the family: paternity and motherhood
900 06
- Water quality study
- Soil quality study
- Calculated tests performed based on the results of SteatoScreen without taking blood
- General assessment of the natural microflora of the body
- Study of the microbiocenosis of the urogenital tract
900 17 Femoflor: research profiles of dysbiotic conditions of the urogenital tract in women
- Blood
- Urine
- Feces
- Spermogram
- Gastropanel
9 0006
- Endoscopy
- Functional diagnostics
- Ultrasound
- Examinations that we do not doing
- New tests
- Getting results
- Additional tests order
- Consultant physician service
- Professional position
- Venous blood for analysis
- Tumor markers. View of a practical oncologist. Laboratory justifications.
- Testosterone: diagnostic threshold, method-dependent reference values
- 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.
- for low- and moderate-risk individuals – desirable LDL-cholesterol values
- for high risk individuals – desired LDL cholesterol values
- for very high risk individuals – desired LDL cholesterol values
- Primary hereditary hypercholesterolemia (hyperlipoproteinemia types IA and IIB types), rare hereditary fermentopathy (deficiency of acid lysosomal lipase).
- 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).
- Hypo- and a-beta-lipoproteinemia.
- Alpha-lipoprotein deficiency (Tangier’s disease).
- Deficiency of LCAT (lecithin-cholesterol-acyl synetatase).
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Reye’s syndrome.
- Chronic anemia.
- Acute stress.
- Taking medications: cholestyramine, clofibrate, lovastatin, neomycin, interferon, thyroxine, estrogens.
- Diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Arthritis.
- Chronic lung diseases.
- Myeloma.
View of a practical oncologist. Laboratory justifications. 9001 5
The cost of analyzes is indicated without taking biomaterial
Description
Method of determination
Friedwald calculation using total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. At a triglyceride level of more than 4.5 mmol / l – measurement by a direct method (colorimetry using cholesterol oxidase and cholesterol esterase).
Test material
Blood serum
Synonyms : LDL; Low density lipoproteins; LDL; LDL cholesterol; Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Cholesterol beta-lipoproteins; Beta lipoproteins; Beta LP.
LDL; LDL-C; Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Low density lipoprotein.
Brief characteristics of the analyte
Cholesterol-LDL Lipoproteins in the blood carry out the transport of lipids of various classes, including cholesterol, from one cell population to another. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are the main transport form of cholesterol, transporting it mainly in the form of cholesterol esters. They belong to beta lipoproteins. It has been proven that the content of LDL cholesterol is more correlated with the risk of atherosclerosis than the level of total cholesterol, since it is this fraction that ensures the transfer of both dietary and synthesized cholesterol to the cells of organs and tissues. In pathology, cholesterol-rich LDL accumulates on the inner walls of the arteries at the sites of formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which narrow the lumen of the vessels and contribute to thrombosis. Therefore, the study of LDL cholesterol is important, both for assessing the risk of atherosclerosis and its complications (heart attack, stroke), and for monitoring the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy.
Usually, a standard lipid profile is used in screening for cardiovascular risk factors, which includes the study of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol by calculation using the Friedwald formula. This calculation method for estimating LDL cholesterol has been used in epidemiological and clinical studies, on the basis of which basic clinical recommendations have been established for the desired level of LDL cholesterol for apparently healthy people and its target therapeutic values for people at high risk of developing complications of atherosclerosis. The calculation method for assessing LDL cholesterol remains the most common.
Calculation of LDL cholesterol has some limitations. The Friedwald formula assumes, as an assumption, a constant ratio of triglycerides and cholesterol in very low density lipoproteins and the absence of an excess of remnant (residual) lipoproteins. In hypertriglyceridemia and chylomicronemia, these assumptions are violated, the use of the Friedwald formula at a high level of triglycerides leads to an underestimation of the calculated result of LDL cholesterol.
What is the purpose of determining the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood
The determination of LDL cholesterol in blood serum is used in combination with other lipid profile tests to assess cardiorisk (reflects the content of “bad cholesterol”). Increased levels are associated with a greater risk of atherosclerosis. When triglyceride concentrations are greater than 4.5 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol is low (less than 1.3 mmol/l), non-HDL cholesterol should be preferred to evaluate cardiac risk and the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy.
Attention! This study is not performed separately, only in combination with tests No. 30 Triglycerides, No. 31 Total cholesterol, No. 32 HDL cholesterol.
More details about the laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters can be found here.
Preparation
Rules for preparing for LDL-cholesterol blood test
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 prescription
In what cases is a blood test for LDL 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-LDL in blood serum
Units of measurement : mmol/l.
Alternate units : mg/dl.
Unit conversion : mg/dL x 0.0259 ==> mmol/L.
Reference values
Currently, the clinical guidelines of European and domestic medical communities consider LDL cholesterol as the main modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and their complications (heart attack, stroke), regardless of gender and the presence of an established diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. With ongoing lipid-lowering therapy, lowering LDL cholesterol is considered as the primary goal of prevention.
A decrease in its level in the blood is accompanied by a decrease in the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. The choice of the target value of LDL depends on the degree of individual risk, which is assessed by the attending physician based on the totality of data.
Adults
According to current clinical guidelines, the desired values of LDL cholesterol, depending on the individual risk group for developing cardiovascular diseases and their complications, to which the patient is assigned, are as follows:
Children and adolescents
Reference values (population dispersion) of LDL cholesterol concentration, mmol/l:
| Age | Men | Women |
| 5 – 10 years | 1.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cholesterol-levels-by-age-chart-5190176-FINAL-d8db6177f9114357b3057f773476f533.jpg) 63 – 3.34 | 1.76 – 3.63 9 0600 |
| 10 – 15 years | 1.66 – 3 ,44 | 1.76 – 3.52 |
| 15 – 18 years old | 1.61 – 3.37 | 1.53 – 3.55 |
Data on the population dispersion of LDL-cholesterol values in adults – see here.
Boost
Decreased values
Questions
and answers
{{{this.PREVIEW_TEXT}}}
Did the answer help you?
{{/each}}
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 analysis “Cholesterol-LDL (Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL, Cholesterol LDL)” in Kochenevo and other cities of Russia, do not forget that the price of the analysis, the cost of the procedure for taking biomaterial, methods and terms for performing studies in regional medical offices may differ.
Is it worth being afraid of cholesterol – Gazeta.Ru
Cholesterol is an organic compound discovered in the 18th century that is necessary for the production of vitamin D and a number of hormones, and is also part of cell membranes. Cholesterol is extremely important for the body, but years of research linking it to the development of atherosclerosis have done a disservice.
Russian trace
Understanding the role of cholesterol in the development of atherosclerosis, the scientific world owes the Russian and Soviet pathologist Nikolai Anichkov. In the 19th century, it was believed that atherosclerosis was a natural manifestation of aging, and not an independent disease at all. Some experts, however, believed that the problem lies in a serious violation of the metabolism of the arteries themselves. The closest to the truth were those who believed that some clots stick to the walls of the arteries, which later turn into atheromatous plaques.
The young scientist Anichkov in 1908 witnessed the experiments of the doctor Athanasius Ignatsky, who managed to induce atherosclerosis in rabbits using a diet of eggs and milk.
Ignatsky, however, decided that atheromatous plaques appeared due to the effects of proteins contained in the products. Soon a similar experiment was conducted by another doctor, Nikolai Stuckey. He divided the rabbits into three groups, one of which received liquid meat extract, the second – egg white, and the third – egg yolk. A few weeks later, Stukkay found atheromatous plaques only in the arteries of the third group and came to the conclusion that the reason for their formation was in a certain substance contained in the yolk.
Anichkov was finishing his dissertation on inflammatory diseases of the myocardium at that time. Together with the researcher Semyon Khalatov, who worked under him, he studied the remains of rabbits fed with yolk, and found drops in atheromatous plaques and liver of animals that were similar in physical properties to cholesterol.
In 1912, Anichkov himself conducted an experiment in which he fed rabbits with cholesterol dissolved in sunflower oil.
When he and Khalatov killed and dissected the rabbits, they found the same plaques in their arteries. The first known culprit for atherosclerosis has been found.
However, Anichkov himself emphasized that it was not only a matter of cholesterol – at least 10% of rabbits did not develop atherosclerosis. Further studies have shown that, in addition to the direct use of cholesterol, the formation of atheromatous plaques can provoke hereditary defects in the vascular wall, disorders of the antioxidant system, viral and bacterial damage to the inner layer of blood vessels, malfunctions of the immune system and other factors. To date, specialists agree that the role of cholesterol in the development of atherosclerosis has been overestimated.
Cholesterol is bad and good
Cholesterol cannot move through blood vessels on its own, for this it combines with transporter proteins apolipoproteins. Such compounds are called lipoproteins. They are divided into high-density, low-density, very-low-density lipoproteins, and chylomicrons.
The fame of “good” cholesterol has been fixed among the people for HDL, and “bad” for LDL. The fact is that a high content of HDL in the blood is characteristic of a healthy body. HDL is highly soluble and not prone to cholesterol precipitation, they protect blood vessels from atherosclerotic changes. LDL, although necessary for the transport of cholesterol in the blood, when exceeded, increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and other diseases.
In the US, for example, LDL levels are elevated in almost a third of the adult population. Of these, less than half use drugs to reduce it, and less than a third try to control it at all. More often men face this problem.
Cardiologists note that with regular aerobic exercise, the risks of experiencing an increase in HDL at age 30 are significantly reduced – just 150 minutes of exercise per week is enough to delay problems with HDL by about 15 years.
At the same time, of course, you should pay attention to nutrition and avoid trans fats. It is recommended to control the level of HDL, LDL and total cholesterol from the age of 20.
To eat or not to eat?
Many associate high cholesterol levels with unhealthy food, but this is not entirely true. 80% of cholesterol is synthesized in the human body, and only 20% comes from food. The danger is the abuse of those products that contain a lot of it. As you know, there is no cholesterol in plant products at all. Among animals, the absolute leader in its content is the brain, it can contain up to 2300 mg of cholesterol per 100 g (average – 1500 mg). It is followed by kidneys (about 600 mg), egg yolks (450 mg), fish roe (300 mg). The least amount of cholesterol in poultry meat is 60 mg per 100 g of duck, 40 mg per 100 g of turkey and only 20 mg per 100 g of chicken.
The body is capable of self-regulation – if it receives an excess of cholesterol, it stops its synthesis. And vice versa, if there is little cholesterol with food, it produces it more actively.
In addition, there are other reasons why cholesterol can be high.
Since it is used for the synthesis of sex hormones, in old age, when their production decreases, part of the cholesterol is “unclaimed”, which increases its level in the blood. Also, the risk of developing atherosclerosis is increased by obesity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension. In the presence of these factors, atherosclerosis can develop even in people with normal cholesterol levels. A genetic predisposition is also possible.
Stanford University staff developed an algorithm that can detect familial hypercholesterolemia, an inherited disease in which mutations in genes lead to a significant increase in blood cholesterol levels.
“We estimate that less than 10% of people with familial hypercholesterolemia in the US know they have the condition,” they note. “A person with hypercholesterolemia is 10 times more likely to suffer from heart disease than a person with normal cholesterol levels.
”
The algorithm analyzes the patient’s family history, test results, and other factors that might indicate the likelihood of a disease. The accuracy reaches 88%.
However, the abuse of fast carbohydrates is still partly capable of provoking the development of atherosclerosis. It raises blood sugar levels, which can lead to inflammation of the walls of blood vessels and, as a result, increase the risk of plaque formation.
For the development of the disease, only the abuse of eggs or sweets is not enough – as a rule, several factors come into play at once.
Particular attention should be paid to food on holidays. Danish scientists found out that after the New Year’s feasts, the level of cholesterol in the blood of people increases by 20%.
Other dangers of cholesterol
Excess cholesterol increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in general. Researchers at Northwestern Hospital in USA found that consuming 300 mg of cholesterol per day (just over one and a half egg yolks) was associated with a 17% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and an 18% risk of death from all causes.
Eating 3-4 eggs per week increased the risk of cardiovascular disease by 6% and the risk of death by 8%. However, they do not call for completely abandoning eggs and other cholesterol-containing foods – you just need to try to reduce their consumption.
Researchers from the University of Southampton found another danger of cholesterol . Its excess consumption can contribute to the development of eye diseases that lead to vision loss.
An unbalanced diet affects the retinal pigment epithelium, scientists explain. As a result of its daily activity, decay products are formed, which are disposed of by lysosomes. However, with an excess of cholesterol in the body, this process is disrupted, which leads to macular degeneration (retinal damage) and, in the long term, to loss of vision.
“Our next step is to find out if the damage can be reversed with diet and if the damaged cells can be saved,” the scientists say.
Statins have long been used to lower blood cholesterol levels, but it is now known that they can reduce not only “bad” but also “good” cholesterol.