High cholesterol can be serious.

What Is High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body. Having high "bad" cholesterol means you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood. LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries and prevent the blood from getting to your heart. HDL cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. It carries LDL cholesterol away from your artery walls.

Here is some basic information you should know about cholesterol:

  • Too much cholesterol in the blood, or high cholesterol, can be serious. People with high cholesterol are at risk of getting heart disease. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
  • Only about 25% of cholesterol comes from the foods you eat. The other 75% is made by the body. Factors such as age and family history affect how much cholesterol your body makes.
  • People with high cholesterol usually have no symptoms. But it can be detected with a blood test. These tests can also help your doctor predict what your risk for heart disease may be.

Cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. Unfortunately, there are usually no signs that you have high cholesterol. But it can be detected with a blood test. These tests can also help your doctor predict what your risk for heart disease may be.

Total Cholesterol

Your blood test report will show your cholesterol levels in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). The total number is based on:

  • LDL ("bad" cholesterol)
  • HDL ("good" cholesterol)
  • Triglyceride (a type of fat found in your blood) levels
Total Cholesterol Levels What It Means
Source: American Heart Association
Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable
200-239 mg/dL Borderline high risk for heart disease
240 mg/dL and above High risk for heart disease

The 2 Types of Cholesterol: LDL and HDL

Bad cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

Too much LDL in your blood can clog arteries. This can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

LDL Cholesterol Levels What It Means
Source: American Heart Association
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100-129 mg/dL Near optimal
130-159 mg/dL Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very high

Good cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

High levels of HDL can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke. HDL carries cholesterol from the body's tissues to the liver. So, low levels of HDL can increase the risk of heart disease.

HDL Cholesterol Levels What It Means
Source: American Heart Association
Less than 40 mg/dL High risk for heart disease
40-59 mg/dL Less risk for heart disease
60 mg/dL Desirable

If you're worried about high cholesterol and heart disease, make an appointment to speak with your doctor. Along with diet and exercise, LIPITOR is clinically proven to lower bad cholesterol 39%-60% (average effect depending on dose).