News and Features Related to Cholesterol Management
-
Good Cholesterol May Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Dec. 13, 2010 -- Having higher HDL, or “good” cholesterol, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests. Experts say the new study, which was published Monday in the Archives of Neurology, is further evidence of a link between heart disease and dementia, and if the finding is ba
Read Full Article -
New Drug May Safely Boost 'Good' Cholesterol
Nov. 17, 2010 (Chicago) -- An experimental pill that boosts levels of "good" HDL cholesterol has cleared a major safety hurdle, renewing hopes of fighting heart disease in a new way. Although the study of the drug, anacetrapib, was designed to look primarily at its safety, researchers say they were
Read Full Article -
New Lipitor Recall Due to Musty Smell
Oct. 29, 2010 – Pfizer has recalled another 38,000 bottles of Lipitor due to a musty smell in bottles provided by a third-party manufacturer. The smell is believed to come from a chemical called TBA used to treat pallets on which the bottles were stored. It's the same chemical that gives "corked" wi
Read Full Article -
Red Yeast Rice Supplements Vary in Potency
Oct. 25, 2010 -- The amount of active ingredients in red yeast rice supplements may vary widely, and some of the popular cholesterol-lowering products may also contain a toxic agent. In a new study, researchers analyzed 12 different red yeast rice supplements, which are used by millions as an altern
Read Full Article -
Lipitor Bottles Recalled Due to Unusual Odor
Oct. 8, 2010 -- The drug company Pfizer is recalling 191,000 bottles of Lipitor, the cholesterol-lowering statin drug, due to complaints of an unusual odor. In a statement emailed to WebMD, Pfizer spokesman Rick Chambers writes that there have been "a small number" of reports of the "uncharacterist
Read Full Article -
Genomic Mapping Finds Cholesterol Genes
Aug. 4, 2010 -- Researchers have identified nearly 100 gene variants linked to blood lipids, which they say could explain a quarter to a third of hereditary factors influencing cholesterol -- a major risk factor for heart disease. In one of the largest gene mapping studies ever conducted, a global t
Read Full Article -
Low-Carb Diets Improve Cholesterol Long Term
Aug. 2, 2010 -- Low-carbohydrate weight loss diets have an edge over low-fat diets for improving HDL cholesterol levels long term, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dieters who followed low-carb or low-fat plans for two years along with a lifestyle modification prog
Read Full Article -
For Some, Low Levels of 'Good' Cholesterol May Not Be Bad
July 23, 2010 -- Traditionally, patients at risk of heart disease are told to lower their levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol while raising their levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. But patients taking statin drugs who reduce their LDL cholesterol to very low levels may not need to boost their HDL cholest
Read Full Article -
Cholesterol and Cooking: Fats and Oils
When you're cooking to lower cholesterol, you might think that fat is a four-letter word. But nutrition experts say that ridding your cooking of all fats and oils may actually work against efforts to lower your blood cholesterol levels. When it comes to fat, what counts are both quality and quanti
Read Full Article -
Eating Plant Stanols Cuts Cholesterol
June 23, 2010 -- Eating 9 grams of stanols a day helped lower LDL "bad" cholesterol by 17.4%, according to a company-supported study from Europe. Researchers also found that a graded (or linear) effect exists, meaning that the more stanols people ate across a spectrum of doses, the lower their chole
Read Full Article
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-199
200-239
240+
Your level is currently
Congratulations! Your total cholesterol level is in the Desirable range, and your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is optimal.
Congratulations! Your total cholesterol level is in the Desirable range, and your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is near optimal.
Your total cholesterol level is in the Desirable range, but your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is borderline high. If your LDL goes higher, your total cholesterol level could become Borderline High. Consider reducing the amount of foods you eat with saturated fats and increasing physical activity. If you get more exercise, your level of "good" HDL cholesterol may increase, which could also help to keep your levels of LDL and total cholesterol in check.
Your total cholesterol level is in the Desirable range, but your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is High. This may mean that your level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, is too low. It is best to have a high level of "good" HDL and a low level of "bad" LDL. The HDL helps keep your LDL level in check. Ask your doctor for your HDL level. If your HDL is low, increasing your physical activity can increase it, which may help reduce your LDL level.
Your total cholesterol level is in the Desirable range, but your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is Very High. This may mean that your level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, is too low. It is best to have a high level of "good" HDL and a low level of "bad" LDL because the HDL helps keep your LDL level in check. Ask your doctor for your HDL level. If your HDL is low, increasing your physical activity can increase it, which may help reduce your LDL level.
Your total cholesterol level is Borderline High, but fortunately your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is optimal. This could mean you have a high level of high-density lipoprotein, or "good" HDL cholesterol, which protects against heart disease. Or you could have other non-measured increases in LDL-like particles that can increase heart disease. Your LDL level also could be optimal if you are taking a statin medication. Please check with your doctor to get your complete lipid profile and see if you may need additional treatment. In the meantime, find more information on WebMD's Cholesterol Health Center.
Your total cholesterol level is Borderline High, but fortunately your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is near optimal. This could mean you have a high level of high-density lipoprotein, or "good" HDL cholesterol, which protects against heart disease. Or you could have other non-measured increases in LDL-like particles that can increase heart disease. Your LDL level also could be optimal if you are taking a statin medication. Please check with your doctor to get your complete lipid profile and see if you may need additional treatment. In the meantime, find more information on WebMD's Cholesterol Health Center.
Your total cholesterol level is Borderline High. Your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is Borderline High, too. Working to bring down your total cholesterol decreases your LDL cholesterol level. You can do this by exercising more and eating less food with saturated fats. Check food labels!
Your total cholesterol level is Borderline High. Your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is High. Working to bring down your total cholesterol decreases your LDL cholesterol level. You can do this by exercising more and eating less food with saturated fats. Check food labels!
Your total cholesterol level is Borderline High. But your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is Very High. Working to bring down your total cholesterol decreases your LDL cholesterol level. You can do this by exercising more and eating less food with saturated fats. Check food labels!
Your total cholesterol is High, but your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is optimal. This could mean you have a high level of high-density lipoprotein, or "good" HDL cholesterol, which protects against heart disease. Or you could have elevated secondary lipids, such as non-HDL particles that increase the risk of heart disease. Your LDL level also could be optimal if you are taking a statin medication. Please check with your doctor to get your complete lipid profile and see if you may need additional treatment. In the meantime, find more information on WebMD's Cholesterol Health Center.
Your total cholesterol is High, but your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is near optimal. This could mean you have a high level of high-density lipoprotein, or "good" HDL cholesterol, which protects against heart disease. Or you could have elevated secondary lipids, such as non-HDL particles that increase the risk of heart disease. Your LDL level also could be optimal if you are taking a statin medication. Please check with your doctor to get your complete lipid profile and see if you may need additional treatment. In the meantime, find more information on WebMD's Cholesterol Health Center.
Your total cholesterol level is High. Your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is Borderline High. Working to bring down your total cholesterol decreases your LDL cholesterol level. You can do this by exercising more and eating less food with saturated fats. Check food labels!
Your total cholesterol level is High. Your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is High, too. Working to bring down your total cholesterol decreases your LDL cholesterol level. You can do this by exercising more and eating less food with saturated fats. Check food labels! If you are struggling to bring down your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, your doctor may prescribe medication, such as statins. Following medication, dietary, and exercise instructions should result in improvements.
Your total cholesterol level is High, and your level of "bad" LDL cholesterol is Very High. Working to bring down your total cholesterol decreases your LDL cholesterol level. You can do this by exercising more and eating less food with saturated fats. Check food labels! If you are struggling to bring down your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, your doctor may prescribe statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications.
Step: of
Today in Cholesterol & Triglycerides
WebMD Special Sections
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.