Your Lipids

"Lipid" is a word used to describe fats in the blood. Your body stores lipids to use as a source of energy at a later time. There are three major lipids that can affect your heart-health: The Good (HDL), The Bad (LDL), and The Forgotten (triglycerides).

Cholesterol and triglycerides are both measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Mg/dL is a term that doctors use but for you, it's most important to know your actual numbers. For example, a normal triglyceride level is below 150 mg/dL. What you need to remember is 150.

Lipids are important for your overall health. If your lipid levels are not normal you may be at increased risk for heart disease. That's why when you think about heart health, you should make sure that all three of your lipids are at healthy levels.

"The Forgotten Fat" - Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of fat made by your body. They are also found in the food you eat. When you eat a meal, your body uses some of the food as an immediate source of energy, but most of it is changed to triglycerides to be used for energy at a later time.

If the amount of triglycerides in your blood is too high, your risk for heart disease can go up. A normal level of triglycerides is 150 or below. The risk of developing heart disease doubles when triglyceride levels are above 200. When your triglycerides are above 200 and your "good" (HDL) cholesterol is below, you are at four times the risk.

High levels of triglycerides are common in people who are overweight, who have diabetes or who have low HDL levels.

If you have high triglyceride levels you may be at increased risk of developing heart disease. The chart below outlines national guidelines for triglyceride levels.

Triglyceride Level Classification
Less than 150 mg/dL Normal
150 to 199 mg/dL Borderline-high
200 to 499 mg/dL High
500 mg/dL Very high

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"Good" Cholesterol - HDL

HDL-cholesterol is another type of fat found in the blood. Because HDL helps to remove other harmful types of cholesterol before they can damage your arteries and heart, it is known as "good" cholesterol. Since HDL helps to protect the heart, the more you have, the better.

If your HDL levels are too low you may be at higher risk for heart disease. The chart below outlines national guidelines for HDL levels.

HDL Cholesterol Levels Classification
Less than 40 mg/dL Low
60 mg/dL and above High

"Bad" Cholesterol - LDL

LDL-cholesterol is a third fat found in the blood. It's known as "bad" cholesterol because of the damage it causes to your heart. Too much LDL can cause arteries to clog, which may lead to heart attack or stroke. Lowering your LDL reduces your risk of heart disease.

High levels of LDL can raise your risk of heart disease. The chart below outlines national guidelines for LDL levels.

LDL Cholesterol Levels Classification
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL Near optimal/Above optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline high
160 to 189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very high

Getting Lipids Checked

During your yearly check-up, it's common for doctors to test your "lipid profile."

A lipid profile is a group of tests that measure the amount of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol, triglycerides (the "forgotten fat") and total cholesterol in your blood.

By looking at the amount of lipids you have in your blood, your doctor can learn about your risk of developing heart disease. Since some foods and drinks can increase the amount of lipids in your blood, you should not eat and only drink water for nine to twelve hours before the test.

Why Should Women Be Concerned?

Unhealthy levels of triglycerides, HDL and LDL can all increase your risk of heart disease.

High triglyceride levels create a greater risk for heart disease in women than men. It is important to remember that a normal triglyceride level is below 150.

Heart disease rates in women after menopause are two to three times higher than in women of the same age before menopause. Even postmenopausal women who are on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) should pay attention to their heart health. While HRT may help protect the bones and help with menopausal symptoms, it has been linked to raised triglyceride levels and a greater risk of heart attack and stroke.

Heart disease can cause serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke and even death. Many women don't realize it, but heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in America, claiming one in three women's lives. Each year nearly 500,000 women die of heart disease, which is nearly 10 times the number of women who die from breast cancer.

You can help prevent heart disease by getting regular heart health screenings and taking action to reduce your risk factors.