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Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women, regardless of age. High cholesterol levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis, which can partially block blood flow to the heart and the rest of the body. This can increase your risk of heart disease.
So if it’s been a while since you’ve had a cholesterol test, you should make an appointment to have your levels checked. And if your cholesterol levels have always been normal, you may notice that your cholesterol levels have worsened after menopause due to the decline in estrogen.
High cholesterol is a common condition and women are slightly more at risk of it than men. Learn what you need to know about how cholesterol can affect your heart health and what steps you can take to keep your levels under control.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance made in your body. You also absorb cholesterol by consuming animal fats.
Cholesterol has a bad reputation, but it is important for your overall health. Your body uses cholesterol as a building block to make vitamin D and hormones like estrogen, progesterone and cortisol. It also plays a role in digestion by producing bile, a substance that breaks down fats in food.
In order for your body to function properly, you need cholesterol. However, in some species an overdose can be harmful to health.
LDL vs. HDL vs. triglycerides
Cholesterol circulates in your blood and travels throughout your body. It is the job of lipoproteins such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to transport this cholesterol throughout the body. Lipoproteins are a mixture of fat (lipids) and protein. LDL and HDL have different roles:
- LDL: Known as “bad” cholesterol, high amounts of LDL can increase the risk of heart problems such as heart attack or stroke.
- HDL: HDL, known as “good” cholesterol, transports LDL from areas of the body and brings it to the liver where it is broken down and removed. High amounts of HDL are a good thing – they could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Triglycerides aren’t actually cholesterol – they’re a common type of fat that your body stores when you have unused calories. Although they are not cholesterol, triglycerides are lumped in with LDL and HDL in tests because they can contribute to the risk of heart and artery problems.
What do my numbers mean?
To determine your cholesterol levels, your doctor will do a blood test called a lipid panel, which includes:
- LDL
- HDL
- Triglycerides
- Total cholesterol – this is the total amount of cholesterol in your blood
Total cholesterol = HDL + LDL + (triglycerides/5)
Their numbers are either at a healthy level, borderline high or high. Adults at low risk of heart disease should have their cholesterol levels checked every 4-6 years. If you have risk factors for heart disease, your doctor may want to test you more frequently.
LDL
An LDL level of 100 mg/dL or less is in the healthy range.
New guidelines recommend that people at intermediate or higher risk of heart disease aim for even lower LDL levels. People who take statins or have certain cardiovascular risk factors should talk to their doctor about what their target levels should be, as these may vary.
Higher LDL levels can increase the risk of plaque buildup and future heart disease.
HDL
Your age and biological sex determine what your HDL should be:
- Age 19 and younger: 45 mg/dL or more
- Men: 40 mg/dl or more
- Women: 50 mg/dl or more
Triglycerides
You should aim for a triglyceride level of less than 150 mg/dL.
Total cholesterol
You have high cholesterol if your total cholesterol level is above 200 mg/dl.
What is the risk of high cholesterol?
High cholesterol – or particularly high LDL cholesterol – is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, meaning the buildup of plaque can lead to health problems such as:
- Chest pain
- Coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease
- heart attack
- stroke
You may be at risk for heart disease if:
- Your total cholesterol level is over 200
- Your HDL is under 50 if you are female (under 40 if you are male)
- Your LDL is over 100
- Your triglyceride level is over 150 mg/dL
What can I do to lower my levels or prevent high cholesterol?
One of the problems with high cholesterol is that you don’t realize you have it until you get a blood test to check your levels. High cholesterol does not cause symptoms until a complication occurs.
If your blood test shows elevated levels of LDL, triglycerides, or total cholesterol, you can take steps to lower your levels or prevent high cholesterol from occurring.
Taking cholesterol medications can help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Statin drugs are usually used first to lower your LDL levels and are the main class of drugs for high cholesterol.
Lifestyle changes can help prevent heart disease and lower your numbers. This includes:
- Eat a healthy diet that includes good fats like avocado, olive oil and nuts. Avoid “bad” fats like fried foods, butter and lard.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get regular exercise, including 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise such as swimming, cycling and walking, ideally five times a week.
- Stop smoking.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
By getting your cholesterol checked regularly, practicing healthy lifestyle habits, and treating high cholesterol with medication when necessary, you can reduce your risk of heart disease and other heart-related problems.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck.
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