You can swap food containing saturated fat for fruit, vegetables and wholegrain cereals. It's important to keep your diet low in fatty food. The first step in reducing your cholesterol is to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. The level at which specific treatment is required will depend on whether other risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure, are also present. Generally, this ratio should be below four, as a higher ratio increases your risk of heart disease.Ĭholesterol is only one risk factor. This is your total cholesterol level divided by your HDL level. Your ratio of total cholesterol to HDL may also be calculated. A lower level of HDL can increase your risk of heart disease. Read more about how cholesterol is tested What should my cholesterol levels be?īlood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L.Īs a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be:Īs a general guide, LDL levels should be:Īn ideal level of HDL is above 1mmol/L. have high blood pressure, diabetes or a health condition that can increase cholesterol levels.have a close family member who has a cholesterol-related condition.have a family history of early cardiovascular disease.have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke or mini stroke (TIA), or peripheral arterial disease (PAD).Your GP may recommend that you have your blood cholesterol levels tested if you: Read more about the causes of high cholesterol When should my cholesterol levels be tested? This can cause high cholesterol even in someone who eats healthily. There's also an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia. having a family history of stroke or heart disease.having diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension).smoking – a chemical called acrolin, found in cigarettes, stops HDL transporting cholesterol from fatty deposits to the liver, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis).an unhealthy diet – in particular, eating high levels of saturated fat.Many factors can increase your chances of having heart problems or a stroke if you have high cholesterol. This can cause pain in your chest or arm during stress or physical activity ( angina). Your risk of developing coronary heart disease also rises as your blood's cholesterol level increases. It also increases the risk of a blood clot developing somewhere in your body. This is because cholesterol can build up in the artery wall, restricting the blood flow to your heart, brain and the rest of your body. transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – often known as a 'mini stroke'.narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis).Why should I lower my cholesterol?Įvidence strongly indicates that high cholesterol can increase the risk of: The recommended cholesterol levels in the blood vary between those with a higher or lower risk of developing arterial disease. The amount of cholesterol in the blood, both HDL and LDL, is measured with a blood test. For this reason, LDL is known as 'bad cholesterol'. If there's too much cholesterol for the cells to use it can build up in the artery walls, leading to disease of the arteries. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries cholesterol to the cells that need it. For this reason, HDL is referred to as 'good cholesterol' and higher levels are better. From there it's either broken down or passed out of the body as a waste product. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver. When the two combine, they're called lipoproteins.

About cholesterolĬholesterol is carried in your blood by proteins. High cholesterol, on its own, doesn't usually cause any symptoms but increases your risk of serious health conditions. Having an excessively high level of lipids in your blood (hyperlipidemia) can have an effect on your health. There are 2 main sources of the cholesterol in your blood: Cell membranes, hormones and vitamin D are created by your body using cholesterol. It's vital for the normal functioning of the body. Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid.

Chol hdl ratio normal range