What is dangerously high bad cholesterol?
Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high and a reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered high.
What race has the highest cholesterol?
1 But cholesterol levels vary by race and ethnicity as well as gender, according to the CDC. Non-Hispanic white men have the least incidence of high LDL cholesterol at 29.4% while non-Hispanic Black men have 30.7% and Mexican American men have the highest incidence at 38.8%.
How bad is 242 cholesterol?
In general, you want to have a cholesterol level below 200 mg/dL. Between 200 mg/dL and 239 mg/dL, your cholesterol level is elevated or borderline-high and should be lowered if you can. With a level of 240 mg/dL or above, your cholesterol level is high, and there is a need for action.
What happens if bad cholesterol is high?
With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.
Which cholesterol is the good cholesterol?
HDL is the good cholesterol because it protects the arteries from the atherosclerosis process. HDL cholesterol extracts cholesterol particles from the artery walls and transports them to the liver to be disposed through the bile. It also interferes with the accumulation of LDL cholesterol particles in the artery walls.
LDL cholesterol makes up the majority of the body’s cholesterol. LDL is known as “bad” cholesterol because having high levels can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease and stroke. HDL cholesterol absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body.
Which is the worst type of cholesterol in the body?
Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Is there a link between high cholesterol and old age?
High cholesterol can also be genetic or related to old age. However, there is good news: Because high cholesterol is often associated with lifestyle habits, a healthy diet, staying active and quitting smoking can go a long way toward reducing your risk.
How are cholesterol levels measured in millimoles per liter?
Cholesterol is measured in millimoles (mmol) per liter (L) of blood. Consider these general guidelines when you get your cholesterol test results back to see if your cholesterol falls in ideal levels.
