ImprovingYour Lipid (Cholesterol) Level HF#6196

 

Improving Your Lipid (Cholesterol) Level

Know your cholesterol numbers and what they mean.  This is important to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blocked arteries in your heart, neck, and legs.  This handout explains what they are.  It also gives you ideas about what you can do to maintain healthy levels.  Below is a table with the recommended values for each part of your lipids.  

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is bad cholesterol.  It builds up in the arteries of the body.  To lower your LDL cholesterol
  • Take your medicines.
  • Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans-fat, and cholesterol. 
• Triglycerides (a form of fat) come from food and are made by the body.  To lower your triglycerides levels 
  • Exercise.
  • Lose weight.
  • Manage your blood sugar levels. 
    Decrease your intake of simple sugars, starches, alcohol, and saturated fats.  Replace these types of food with whole grains and unsaturated fats from plants and fish.  This will also help lower triglycerides.
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is good cholesterol.  To increase your HDL level 
  • Take your medicines.
  • Exercise. 
  • Lose weight.
  • Stop smoking.
• Total Cholesterol is no longer used by itself to predict heart disease risk.
  

For patients without Known Heart Disease

 

	Optimal	Normal	High
Total Cholesterol	Less than 160	Less than 200	greater than 200
LDL Cholesterol	Less than 100	Less than 130	greater than 130
Triglycerides	Less than 100	Less than 150	greater than 150
HDL Cholesterol           Men           Women	-  -	45 or greater  55 or greater	-  -

 

 

 

For patients with Heart Disease

 

	Optimal	Normal	High
Total Cholesterol	Less than 160	-	-
LDL Cholesterol	Less than 70	Less than 100	-
Triglycerides	Less than 100	Less than 150	-
HDL Cholesterol           Men           Women	-  -	45 or greater  55 or greater	-  -

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 06/13/2011

Copyright © 06/13/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6196

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