Many of us are aware of the dangers of having high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood.
While a certain amount and type of cholesterol is needed to allow the body to function properly, having too much can be bad.
More specifically, having high levels of low-density lipoprotein – also known as “bad” cholesterol – is what we want to avoid.
This is because excess low-density lipoprotein cholesterol contributes to plaque build up in your arteries, which is a process known as atherosclerosis.
Over time atherosclerosis prevents blood from flowing easily through the arteries, raising your risk for medical emergencies and diseases such as stroke and coronary heart disease.
With this in mind, one expert explained that being aware of your low-density lipoprotein levels could help prevent a heart attack.
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, cardiologist Dr Alan Maisel said: “I’m trying to tell you ways not to get a heart attack.
“Know what your LDL cholesterol is. Not the whole cholesterol, just the LDL. You need to know your number.
“If you know your Social Security number, you need to know your LDL number. It is that important.”
As well as low-density lipoprotein, testing will also often reveal your total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (“good” cholesterol).
Dr Maisel told his followers that your low-density lipoprotein levels should be under 60 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).
However, this is much lower than other health bodies recommend.
The Cleveland Clinic states that it should be under 100mg/dL.
Anything above 160 is considered high or very high.
Inversely, you want your high-density lipoprotein levels to be high.
The clinic says: “Your cholesterol numbers show how much cholesterol is circulating in your blood.
“Your HDL (“good” cholesterol) is the one number you want to be high (ideally above 60).
“Your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be below 100. Your total should be below 200.
“Talk with your provider about what your results mean for you and how to manage your cholesterol.”
One of the biggest risk factors for high levels of low-density lipoprotein is diet, specifically foods high in saturated fat.
If you are concerned about your cholesterol you should therefore avoid:
- Bakery items, like doughnuts, cookies and cake
- Full-fat dairy products, like whole milk, cheese and butter
- Red meats, like steak, ribs, pork chops and ground beef
- Processed meats, like bacon, hot dogs and sausage
- Fried foods, like French fries and fried chicken.
