What Is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a lipid, a type of fat found in the body. Having high "bad" cholesterol means you have too much LDL in your blood. LDL is low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" 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 20% of cholesterol comes from the foods you eat. The other 80% is made by your body. Things such as age and family health history affect how much cholesterol your body makes.
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. LIPITOR is clinically proven to lower bad cholesterol 39%-60%, when diet and exercise are not enough (average effect depending on dose).
Next: Heart Disease Risk Factors >>
LIPITOR is a prescription drug. It is used in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease such as family history, high blood pressure, age, low HDL ("good" cholesterol) or smoking to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. When diet and exercise alone are not enough, LIPITOR is used along with a low-fat diet and exercise to lower cholesterol.
LIPITOR is also used in patients with type 2 diabetes and at least one other risk factor for heart disease such as high blood pressure, smoking or complications of diabetes, including eye disease and protein in urine, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
LIPITOR is not for everyone. It is not for those with liver problems. And it is not for women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.
If you take LIPITOR, tell your doctor if you feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects. Tell your doctor about all medications you take. This may help avoid serious drug interactions. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment and may adjust your dose. The most common side effects are gas, constipation, stomach pain and heartburn. They tend to be mild and often go away.
When diet and exercise alone are not enough, adding LIPITOR can help. LIPITOR is one of many cholesterol-lowering treatment options that you and your doctor can consider.
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