Cholesterol is a fat-like substance produced either in the body or blood mostly by the liver and some foods we eat. Cholesterol plays a vital role in human development. However, excess cholesterol-level in the blood forms a block on the wall of the arteries, preventing easy flow of blood in the body. It is one of the major causes of heart diseases and strokes.

How can I test for cholesterol-level?

Cholesterol-levels should be checked at least once in every five to six years for people above 20 years. A blood test also known as lipoprotein profile is used to check the risk level of one having heart disease or stroke in the nearby future. The following things are also monitored.

Total cholesterol-level. This refers to all the cholesterol in the body. Including the good and bad ones. The total cholesterol-level less than 200 milligram/deciliter (mg/dl) is considered as normal.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. They form a block on the wall of the arteries and prevents the free flow of blood to other parts of the body. This increases your chances of having heart disease. The normal level of LDL cholesterol in the blood is 100 mg/dl or less.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. The HDL helps to clear the bad cholesterol (LDL) formed on the walls of the arteries. The higher the level of HDL in the body, the better. The HDL level of 60 mg/dl and above can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular or heart diseases.

Triglycerides. These are fats formed from the excess deposits of calories and glucose in the body. The triglyceride level of 150 mg/dl and below is normal for the body.

A Guideline on Cholesterol Level in The Blood According to The National Heart-Lungs and Blood Institute [NHLBI]

Factors that can increase your cholesterol-level

Obesity. This increases the level of cholesterol in the blood. Losing weight can help increase your HDL level and also lower your LDL and triglyceride level.

Diets. Eating diets with a high level of saturated fats can increase the level of cholesterol in the body.

Sedentary lifestyle. Living a life with less or no physical activities can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood.

How can I lower the cholesterol-level?

Physical activities. Regular exercise can increase the level of good cholesterol in the blood and also lower the bad ones.

Avoid smoking. Smoking affects the lungs and also reduce the level of good cholesterol in the blood. And hence, increasing the chances of having heart diseases and stroke.

The therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC). This is an act of eating only diets with low saturated fats and low cholesterol-level. It recommends a daily consumption of less than 7% calories from saturated fats and less than 200 mg of dietary cholesterol. The TLC recommends the following diets: whole grains, fruits, fish, vegetables, low fats diets, lean meat, skinless chicken. Furthermore, the TLC also recommended only consuming enough calories to maintain a normal weight and avoid obesity. Foods like margarine that contains naturally occurring substances in them should also be added to the TLC diets to boost the HDL level.

Which drugs can I use to lower cholesterol-level?

There are so many drugs for lowering the cholesterol level in the blood. the following are some of them

Statins. This drug prevents the liver from producing cholesterol.

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor. It reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food and lowers the triglyceride level in the blood.

Bile acid sequestrants. This lowers the number of fats absorbed from the foods we eat.

Omega-3 fatty acids. This increases the level of high-density lipoproteins cholesterol in the blood and also, lowers the LDL and triglyceride level in the body.

Vitamins supplements. Some vitamins like niacin stop the liver from removing HDL cholesterol and also lowers triglycerides.

Your doctor will be the one to examine you and choose the right drugs for you.