Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance produced by the liver that is present in the blood and all cells of the body. It is necessary because our bodies use cholesterol to produce hormones and vitamin D, as well as to aid digestion. Our liver produces enough cholesterol to perform these functions, but your body does not obtain cholesterol solely from your liver. Cholesterol can also be found in foods like meat, dairy, and poultry. If we consume a lot of these foods, our cholesterol levels may rise to dangerously high levels. As a result, stroke, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and a variety of other diseases are caused.
Major types of Cholesterol are:
- High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) , also called as ‘the good cholesterol’
- Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), also called as ‘the bad cholesterol’ and
- Very- low- density lipoproteins, they are particles in the blood that carry triglycerides
For decades, it’s been known that, when it comes to heart disease risk, there’s a difference between so-called “bad cholesterol”—also known as low-density lipoprotein or LDL, which can clog up the artery walls—and “good cholesterol,” known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL, which helps clear cholesterol out of the system.
According to Medline Plus site the healthy levels of cholesterol, based on age and gender is given below.
| S.N. | Types of Cholesterol | Healthy level( anyone age 19 or younger |
| 1. | Total cholesterol | Less than 170mg/dL |
| 2. | Non-HDL | Less than 120mg/dL |
| 3. | LDL | Less than 100mg/dL |
| 4. | HDL | more than 45mg/dL |
| S.N. | Types of Cholesterol | Healthy level Men aged 20+ | Healthy level Women aged 20+ |
| 1. | Total cholesterol | 125 to 200mg/dL | 125 to 200mg/dL |
| 2. | Non-HDL | Less than 130mg/dL | Less than 130mg/dL |
| 3. | LDL | Less than 100mg/dL | Less than 100mg/dL |
| 4. | HDL | 40mgdL or higher | 50mg/dL |
When should we test our cholesterol level?
People aged 19 and under should have their first test between the ages of 9 and 11, and then repeat the test every 5 years. If there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke, a test should be performed as early as the age of two. Similarly, young adults over the age of 20 should have the test done every 5 years. Men between the ages of 45 and 65, and women between the ages of 55 and 65, should have it tested every 1-2 years.
https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterollevelswhatyouneedtoknow.html