Warning Signs Of High Cholesterol & How To Get Back On Track

Cholesterol is a component of every cell wall of every organ, and it fuels the formation of various hormones as well as bile (which helps us digest food). Unfortunately, any excess cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream can become trapped in artery walls, forming plaque. Plaque buildup is responsible for heart attacks, strokes, and the need for stent implantation and bypass surgery. No wonder doctors are so focused on helping patients keep their circulating levels of cholesterol low1.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is absorbed from the intestines during digestion. It's also manufactured internally by the liver. The majority of cholesterol circulating in your blood does not come from the foods you eat but rather is manufactured internally.

When you get a cholesterol result, you are typically provided with four numbers: total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Total cholesterol should fall below 200 mg/dL, but the other three values are much more important in terms of risk assessment.

HDL is "good" cholesterol: This is the cholesterol that's not depositing in your arteries but is on its way out. So you want HDL numbers to be high. In men, HDL should be above 40 mg/dL. In women, HDL should be above 50 mg/dL. Values lower than those represent an additional risk factor for developing plaque deposits.

LDL is "bad" cholesterol: This is the cholesterol that's potentially depositing in your arteries. You want LDL numbers to be low; the lower, the better. Cardiologists would say that everyone's LDL should fall below 130 mg/dL. If you have additional risk factors (i.e., if you're a smoker, have high blood pressure, or have low HDL), LDL should fall below 100 mg/dL. If you've had a heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery, or a stent, or if you have diabetes, LDL should fall below 70 mg/dL. LDL well under 50 mg/dL is considered additionally protective2. 

These are all late manifestations of high LDL. By the time you can see deposits around your eyelids, had a stroke, or experience ED, cholesterol has been depositing in your blood vessels and other tissues for many years—even decades. Most high cholesterol, especially early on, is completely silent. 

Most Americans don't get enough fiber in their diets. And that's a problem because dietary fiber traps bile cholesterol in the digestive system and prevents it from being reabsorbed. This leads to the body having to use more circulating LDL to make bile for the next meal, helping to clear LDL out of the bloodstream. High-fiber foods include whole grains, beans, legumes, leafy greens, and whole fruits and vegetables.

There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids: EPA, DHA, and ALA. Of these three, only ALA is considered "essential" because we need it for multiple biochemical processes but can't manufacture it inside our bodies.

Before LDL can be incorporated into artery walls, it has to be oxidized. Antioxidants prevent this from happening, making any circulating LDL less toxic8. Antioxidants are found in especially high amounts in fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens.