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Healthy Heart

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Healthy Heart

Heart in Man's Chest

Image by TheVisualMD

ABCS of Heart Health

ABCS of Heart Health

Image by Million Hearts®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ABCS of Heart Health

Every year, Americans suffer more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes.

The good news is that you can help reduce your risk and improve your heart health by following the ABCS!

A

Take aspirin as directed by your health care professional.

B

Control your blood pressure.

C

Manage your cholesterol.

S

Don’t smoke.

What are the ABCS of heart health?

A: Take aspirin as directed by your health care professional.

Ask your health care professional if aspirin can reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Be sure to tell your health care professional if you have a family history of heart disease or stroke, and mention your own medical history.

B: Control your blood pressure.

Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. If your blood pressure stays high for a long time, you may suffer from high blood pressure (also called hypertension).

High blood pressure increases your risk for heart attack or stroke more than any other risk factor. Find out what your blood pressure numbers are, and ask your health care professional what those numbers mean for your health. If you have high blood pressure, work with your health care professional to lower it.

C: Manage your cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and found in certain foods. Your body needs cholesterol, but when you have too much, it can build up in your arteries and cause heart disease.

There are different types of cholesterol: One type is “good” and can protect you from heart disease, but another type is “bad” and can increase your risk. Talk to your health care professional about cholesterol and how to lower your bad cholesterol if it’s too high.

S: Don’t smoke.

Smoking raises your blood pressure, which increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. If you smoke, quit. Talk with your health care professional about ways to help you stick with your decision. It’s never too late to quit smoking. Visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW today.

What do I need to know about high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart attack and stroke in the United States. It can also damage your eyes and kidneys. One in three American adults has high blood pressure, and only about half of them have it under control.

How is blood pressure measured?

Two numbers (for example, 140/90) help determine blood pressure. The first number measures systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart beats. The second number measures diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.

When and how should I take my blood pressure?

Take your blood pressure regularly, even if you feel fine. Generally, people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. You can take your blood pressure at home, at many pharmacies, and at your doctor’s office.

How can I control my blood pressure?

Work with your health care professional to make a plan for controlling your blood pressure. Be sure to follow these guidelines:

Eat a healthy diet. Choose foods low in trans fat and sodium (salt). Most people in the United States consume more sodium than recommended.
- Everyone age 2 and up should consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day.
- Adults age 51 and older; African Americans of all ages; and people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease should consume even less than that: only 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

Get moving. Staying physically active will help you control your weight and strengthen your heart. Try walking for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, 5 days a week.

Take your medications. If you have high blood pressure, your health care professional may give you blood pressure medicine to help control it. It’s important to follow your health care professional’s instructions when taking the medication and to keep taking it even if you feel well. Tell your health care professional if the medicine makes you feel bad. Your health care team can suggest different ways to reduce side effects or recommend another medicine that may have fewer side effects.

Who is part of my health care team?

The doctor is not the only health care professional who can help you follow the ABCS. Nurses, pharmacists, community health workers, health coaches, and other professionals can work with you and your doctor to help you achieve your health goals.

Source: Million Hearts®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Additional Materials (2)

ABCS of heart health

Million Hearts®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ABCS of Heart Health

Million Hearts®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Healthy Body, Happy Heart

Wellness Rule 1: Measure Yourself to Track Your Health

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

The Wellness Continuum

Interactive by TheVisualMD

Healthy Body, Happy Heart: Improve Your Heart Health

Every moment of the day, your heart is pumping blood throughout your body. In silent moments, you can hear the thump-thump-thump of its demanding work. Do you take your heart for granted? Most of us will have heart trouble at some point in our lives. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. But you can take steps now to lower your risk.

“About 1 out of 3 people in America will die of heart disease,” says NIH heart disease expert Dr. David C. Goff, Jr. “And about 6 out of every 10 of us will have a major heart disease event before we die.”

Heart disease develops when the blood vessels supplying the heart become clogged with fatty deposits, or plaque. After the blood vessels narrow, blood flow to the heart is reduced. That means oxygen and nutrients can’t get to the heart as easily.

Eventually, an area of plaque can break open. This may cause a blood clot to form on the plaque’s surface. A blood clot can block blood flowing to the heart. That can cause a heart attack.

A heart attack happens when a vessel supplying the heart is blocked and the heart can’t get enough oxygen, which leads to death of heart muscle.

The three major risk factors for heart disease have been known since the 1960s: smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. These were identified in NIH’s Framingham Heart Study, a long-term study of people in Framingham, Massachusetts.

“If we could eliminate cigarette smoking, elevated blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels, we could eradicate about 9 out of 10 heart attacks in our country,” says Dr. Daniel Levy, a heart specialist at NIH who oversees the Framingham Heart Study currently.

The study has also uncovered other risk factors, including diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity. Levy’s research team is now hunting for genes that may be risk factors for heart disease. By understanding the factors that play a role in heart disease, scientists hope to find new ways to prevent and treat it.

Get Tested

Early heart disease may not cause any symptoms. That’s why regular checkups with your doctor are so important.

“The sad truth is that the vast majority of us has heart disease and we don’t know it,” Goff says.

Blood pressure and cholesterol levels can provide early signs. “People should see their doctor, find out their cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, and if needed, take medication,” advises Goff.

There are many other tests to detect heart disease. An electro-cardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, measures electrical activity in your heart. It can show how well your heart is working and pick up signs of a previous heart attack.

Another test called an echocardiogram uses sound waves to detect problems. It shows the size, shape, and structures of your heart. It can also measure blood flow through your heart.

Although early heart disease might not cause symptoms, advanced heart disease may cause chest pressure, shortness of breath, or fatigue. Some people may feel lightheaded, dizzy, or confused. Tell your doctor if you’re experiencing any symptoms.

Make Healthy Choices

Talk with your doctor about your risk of heart disease and what you can do to keep your heart healthy.

“The most important things for everyone to do to keep their heart healthy—to keep their entire body healthy—is to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of physical activity, maintain a lean body weight, and avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke,” Goff says.

Following a heart-healthy eating plan is important for everyone. “When someone puts food on their plate, about half the plate should be fruits and vegetables. About a quarter of the plate should be whole grain. And about a quarter should be lean protein, like lean meat or seafood,” says Goff.

If you have high blood pressure, you may want to follow the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. This diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, and low-fat dairy products.

Goff also advises, “Avoid foods that have a lot of salt in them. Salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure and risk of heart disease.”

Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes increases your chances of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. You’re also more likely to develop heart disease and have a heart attack.

“Having diabetes is almost like already having heart disease,” says Dr. Larissa Avilés-Santa, a diabetes and heart health expert at NIH. She oversees a large NIH study of heart disease risk factors among more than 16,000 Hispanic/Latino adults.

Avilés-Santa says that sometimes people think that they will develop diabetes and heart disease no matter what they do. But that’s not true. Even if you have a family history of these diseases, you can be the messenger of good health for your family, she says. You can help your family by inspiring healthy habits.

The best way to prevent diabetes is through diet and physical activity. “The evidence is outstanding that very modest changes in lifestyle could reduce the risk of developing diabetes much greater than medication,” Avilés-Santa says.

Get Help

For some people, having a heart attack is the first sign of heart disease. Pain or discomfort in your chest or upper body, a cold sweat, or shortness of breath are all signs of a heart attack.

If you feel any of these signs, get medical help right away. Acting fast can save your life and prevent permanent damage.

Heart disease and heart attacks are major risk factors for cardiac arrest, which is when the heart suddenly stops beating. Blood stops flowing to the brain and other parts of the body. If not treated within minutes, cardiac arrest can lead to death.

Heart disease and heart attacks can also make it harder for your heart’s electrical system to work. As a result, an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can occur. Your heart may beat too fast, too slow, or with an uneven rhythm. A dangerous arrhythmia can lead to cardiac arrest.

Regular checkups help ensure that a doctor will check your heart for problems. Heart disease and arrhythmias can be treated to lower the risk of cardiac arrest.

Be good to your heart. Don’t take it for granted. Get tested for heart disease, and follow your doctor’s suggestions. See the sidebar for questions you may want to ask your doctor.

Source: NIH News in Health

Additional Materials (6)

3:19

Top 5 Heart Health Tips

Sunnybrook Hospital/YouTube

3:14

10 Heart Health Tips

AdventHealth Florida/YouTube

1:58

What is a Heart Health Check?

Heart Foundation/YouTube

0:33

Heart Health: Healthy Choices

Baylor College of Medicine/YouTube

3:36

What's involved in a heart health check?

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute/YouTube

4:42

Heart Health Check

Heart Foundation/YouTube

Increase Physical Activity

A Healthier Outlook

Image by TheVisualMD

A Healthier Outlook

Get Active While nothing has been proven to stop Alzheimer's, studies show that some behaviors may help to lessen the symptoms of cognitive decline and memory loss. There are some lifestyle habits that could theoretically help prevent Alzheimer’s. Staying physically active can keep blood flowing to the brain to nourish nerve cells so they can function. Many caregivers help patients to maintain a regular schedule of walking or other exercise to keep them active. Stay Socially Engaged Being part of a strong network of family and friends may keep the brain stimulated and help to maintain nerve cell networks involved in memory. Church groups and other regular social gatherings are also a good way to strengthen social ties. Train Your Brain Any activity that engages the brain's powers to think, organize and plan can strengthen the nerve circuits that keep the intellect sharp. Games and puzzles, as well as learning new things such as languages, may work to reinforce nerve cell networks that are vulnerable to decline in Alzheimer's. Eat Healthy There is no anti-Alzheimer's diet, but a heart-healthy eating strategy can help to maintain blood flow to the brain to nourish nerve cells. Rest your brain Sleep is a critical part of the brain's daily work cycle. Because events during the day are replayed and stored during sleep as memories, getting enough rest may help even a brain affected by Alzheimer's to maintain as much recall as possible. The Nun Study, a long-term investigation of the lifestyle factors that contribute to aging, provides some of the strongest evidence of the power of brain training to combat Alzheimer’s. And that training includes education. In the ongoing study, researchers perform autopsies of brains donated by sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. What makes the sisters ideal participants in the study are detailed records kept by the Order that detail their education, life experiences and even their writing samples. When the scientists compared writing samples the nuns had written before taking their vows in which they described themselves, for example, they learned that the nuns who used more expressive and complicated sentence structure were less likely to succumb to Alzheimer’s than those who used more simple constructions. The sisters are already putting into practice what scientists are learning about lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s; they regularly play thinking games and spend time knitting and writing. The Nun Study continues to identify such modifiable lifestyle factors that may help to control or reverse the disease.

Image by TheVisualMD

Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Increase Physical Activity

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The good news is you can lower many heart disease risk factors such as “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, increase "good" HDL cholesterol levels, and manage high blood pressure by simply moving more. Being active can also improve blood flow and give you more stamina and ability to cope with stress.

If you’re inactive, you’re nearly twice as likely to develop heart disease than if you’re active so for major health benefits aim for at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) each week. To ensure you’re reducing your sitting throughout the day and getting active, try breaking your activity up. Do 10 minutes of exercise, 3 times a day or one 30-minute session on five separate days each week. Any amount of physical activity is better than none and all activity counts! Exercising with a friend, family, or co-worker makes sticking to being physically active easier.

Try these activities:

Take a yoga or fitness class with a friend. You can even take a virtual class online with a friend in another city.
Work on your fitness goals with your spouse or roommate.
Go for a daily walk with a neighbor.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Additional Materials (6)

0:53

Be Active — Keep Your Heart Healthy!

NHLBI/YouTube

1:55

How Exercise Improves Heart Health – Healthfirst Healthy Living

Healthfirst/YouTube

2:33

What happens inside your body when you exercise?

British Heart Foundation/YouTube

0:34

Does Sex Count as Exercise for Your Heart?

Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube

6:51

British Heart Foundation - Your weight and heart disease

British Heart Foundation/YouTube

1:01

Best exercises for your heart

CNN/YouTube

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Eat Healthy

Image by TheVisualMD

Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

A healthy diet that is low in sodium and saturated fat is key to heart disease prevention. Try the highly rated Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan.

It recommends:

Eating vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
Eating fish, poultry, beans, nuts, vegetable oils, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
Limiting foods that are high in saturated fat and sodium
Limiting sugar and other sweeteners.

Learn more about the DASH eating plan.

Sticking to your healthy eating goals is easier when you enlist the help of a friend or family member to keep you motivated.

Going out to eat or ordering takeout? Here’s some tips:

Nix the all-you-can-eat meals, where people tend to overeat.
Split a meal with a friend or family member.
If you get fast food, ask for a salad instead of fries, and don’t get the “deluxe” sandwich.
Bring a salad or veggie side dish to your next potluck, so you’ll have something healthy to fill up on.

Studies suggest that we tend to eat like our friends and family. Your healthy choices may inspire those around you.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Additional Materials (18)

DASH Eating Plan: Getting Started

1) Assess where you are now. 2) Discuss medication with your doctor. 3) Make DASH a part of a healthy lifestyle. 4) Adapt DASH for everyone in the family. 5) Judge success across several days, not just one.

Image by NHLBI

DASH Eating Plan: Tips to Keep on Track

1) Ask yourself why you off track. 2) Don't worry about a slip. 3) See if you tried to change too much at once. 4) Break the process down into small steps. 5) Write down goals and track progress. 6) Celebrate success!

Image by NHLBI

3 Delicious Heart Healthy Recipes – #OurHearts

Video by NHLBI/YouTube

In Brief: Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH

What you eat affects your chances of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). Research shows that high blood pressure can be prevented— and lowered—by following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which includes eating less sodium.

Document by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

At a Glance: Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH

What you eat affects your chances of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). Research shows that high blood pressure can be prevented—and lowered—by following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other foods that are heart healthy and low in salt and sodium.

Document by www.nhlbi.nih.gov

USDA Food Pattern and the DASH Eating Plan

This tip sheet helps you find out what amount of food is healthy for you and your family.

Document by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

DASH Eating Plan

Eat this: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, fish, poultry, beans, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils. Limit this: fatty meats, full-fat dairy, sugar sweetened beverages, sweets, sodium intake.

Image by www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Getting Started on DASH

Even small lifestyle changes made gradually can lead to significant health benefits. Follow these steps to get started on the DASH eating plan and begin a healthy lifestyle for a lifetime.

Document by NHLBI / NIH

Why is the Mediterranean diet good for your heart?

Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube

Mayo Clinic Minute: Ideas for a heart-healthy diet

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

The Heart Healthy Diet

Video by RWJBarnabas Health/YouTube

Lean & Green - The Heart Healthy Diet

Video by Lee Health/YouTube

How to eat a heart-healthy diet

Video by Sunnybrook Hospital/YouTube

Making Healthy Food Choices: Choosing Healthy Drinks

Video by Health e-University/YouTube

Mayo Clinic Minute: Heart-healthy diet for women

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

A Heart Healthy Lifestyle

Improving your health can lessen the symptoms of arrhythmia and other heart disorders. Underlying heart disease can increase the risk of developing arrhythmias. For these reasons, it makes sense to live a lifestyle that will keep your heart as healthy as possible.

Image by TheVisualMD

Portion Control for Heart-Healthy Living

Video by UMMCVideos/YouTube

A heart-healthy diet

Video by AllHealthGo/YouTube

DASH Eating Plan: Getting Started

NHLBI

DASH Eating Plan: Tips to Keep on Track

NHLBI

10:58

3 Delicious Heart Healthy Recipes – #OurHearts

NHLBI/YouTube

In Brief: Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

At a Glance: Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

USDA Food Pattern and the DASH Eating Plan

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

DASH Eating Plan

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Getting Started on DASH

NHLBI / NIH

2:50

Why is the Mediterranean diet good for your heart?

British Heart Foundation/YouTube

1:00

Mayo Clinic Minute: Ideas for a heart-healthy diet

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

3:20

The Heart Healthy Diet

RWJBarnabas Health/YouTube

1:43

Lean & Green - The Heart Healthy Diet

Lee Health/YouTube

10:59

How to eat a heart-healthy diet

Sunnybrook Hospital/YouTube

2:17

Making Healthy Food Choices: Choosing Healthy Drinks

Health e-University/YouTube

1:01

Mayo Clinic Minute: Heart-healthy diet for women

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

A Heart Healthy Lifestyle

TheVisualMD

4:36

Portion Control for Heart-Healthy Living

UMMCVideos/YouTube

8:14

A heart-healthy diet

AllHealthGo/YouTube

Know and Control Your Numbers

Blood pressure chart

Image by TheVisualMD

Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Know and Control Your Heart Health Numbers

It is important to keep track of how much you exercise, your blood pressure, your weight, and your cholesterol numbers as ways to meet your heart health goals.

Here’s some ways you can do this:

Keep a log of your activity to help you track your progress. Consider wearing a device that counts your steps to track how much you walk every day.
Calculate your body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and more.
Track your blood pressure. It’s important to get your blood pressure checked at least once a year at your doctor's office. While you're there ask your doctor what your target numbers should be and how often you should check it on your own.
Get your cholesterol checked. A blood test can show whether your cholesterol levels are healthy. Talk with your doctor about having your cholesterol tested, how often you need it tested, and what your levels should be.
If you have diabetes, check your blood sugars. Talk with your health care provider about how often to check your blood sugar.
Keep a record of what you eat. Write down what you eat and drink each day in a food diary to help you stay on track when trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Keep your diary in a noticeable place such as on the refrigerator, so you’ll remember to update it each day.
Follow the DASH Eating Plan. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan is a science-based way of eating that can help you reduce high blood pressure and has other heart health benefits. Find healthy recipes, calorie trackers, tips for following the eating plan, and more.

Ask your friends or family to remind you to do these or join you in the effort.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Additional Materials (11)

Small Steps for the Heart, #FromTheHeart: Know Your Numbers

Video by NHLBI/YouTube

This browser does not support the video element.

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

Your blood "knows" what you eat, meaning that the cardiovascular system is a sensitive barometer of a person's health, including diet. What individuals eat is reflected in their blood chemistry and the health of their heart, arteries and vessels. Fats (also known as lipids), for example, are vital to health and wellbeing throughout our lives and yet they are mostly associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The problem is that not all fats (or cholesterol) are equal. They share basic chemical similarities, but they also have important differences, which, in turn, result in different roles and effects in the body. Tests that offer information on diet and heart health include total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), and triglycerides.

Video by TheVisualMD

Know these numbers to prevent heart disease

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

Heart Health Numbers Women Need to Know | UPMC

Video by UPMC/YouTube

Blood Pressure Numbers

Video by Florida Department of Health/YouTube

Cholesterol Numbers - Mayo Clinic

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

What Do My Cholesterol Results Mean?

Every complete medical checkup includes an analysis of the fats in your blood—mainly, your cholesterol levels. The balance of “good” and “bad” cholesterol in the blood is an important factor in your risk of cardiovascular disease. A combined cholesterol total of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood is desirable. Even more important is having enough helpful HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and not too much unstable LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. You need fat. Your body uses it to build cells and hormones, and as a source of energy. Cholesterol's job is to bundle up with proteins and fat, in the form of triglycerides, to travel through the bloodstream to the places where fat is needed or stored. HDL molecules are good travelers, densely packed and stable. They can even tidy up potential blockages in the blood vessels as they pass through. LDL molecules, though, are more loosely put together. As they ramble through vessels, they can cause trouble by sticking to arteries' walls. If other cells, platelets and calcium build up at the site to create arterial plaque, the artery can become blocked. If plaque breaks free from the artery's wall, it could travel to the brain or heart, causing a stroke or heart attack. People with unhealthful cholesterol levels have no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to diagnose cholesterol problems. Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that about 20% of U.S. adults have never had their cholesterol checked.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, fatty substance that's found naturally in every cell in your body. It's categorized as a lipid-that is, a fat, oil, or wax that won't dissolve in water. Cholesterol is necessary for your body's health because it helps to make cell membranes, digest fats, and produce vitamin D and various steroid hormones. Your bloodstream transports cholesterol throughout your body bound to water-soluble particles called lipoproteins.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol is made by your own body

Cholesterol is made by your own body. It is also found in food products derived from animals. Cholesterol is used to make bile acids in the liver, necessary for fat digestion. Cholesterol is constantly transported in the bloodstream between the liver and all the body's tissues. HDL-cholesterol helps clear excess cholesterol from your body. LDL-cholesterol is ingested by cells in need of cholesterol. LDL particles of the Pattern A type are larger and less dense and may be harmless. LDL particles of the Pattern B type, however, are smaller and more dense and can penetrate through the lining of an artery and into its interior. Oxidized LDL particles (oxLDL) can cause major damage.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol is Everywhere

The human body contains about 100-150 g of cholesterol, most of it incorporated into cell membranes. One of the other major uses of cholesterol is the production of bile acids (also known as bile salts) in the liver. Bile contains a number of ingredients, including water, cholesterol, and bile acids. Bile is necessary for the absorption of fats from fecal matter passing through the intestine.

Image by TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

Doctors generally recommend lifestyle changes as the first line of defense against cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis. In addition, one or more of the following drugs may be prescribed:

Image by TheVisualMD

0:44

Small Steps for the Heart, #FromTheHeart: Know Your Numbers

NHLBI/YouTube

2:46

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

TheVisualMD

1:13

Know these numbers to prevent heart disease

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

0:42

Heart Health Numbers Women Need to Know | UPMC

UPMC/YouTube

0:34

Blood Pressure Numbers

Florida Department of Health/YouTube

2:16

Cholesterol Numbers - Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

What Do My Cholesterol Results Mean?

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol is made by your own body

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol is Everywhere

TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Test

Also called: Blood pressure reading, Blood pressure screening, Systolic (maximum) pressure over diastolic (minimum) pressure

A blood pressure measurement is a test most often used to check for high blood pressure, a common condition that increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. The test can diagnose high blood pressure early, so it can be treated before it causes serious complications.

Blood Pressure Test

Also called: Blood pressure reading, Blood pressure screening, Systolic (maximum) pressure over diastolic (minimum) pressure

A blood pressure measurement is a test most often used to check for high blood pressure, a common condition that increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. The test can diagnose high blood pressure early, so it can be treated before it causes serious complications.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mm Hg
90
121
130
140
Your result is Normal.
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure inside the body's arteries as the heart beats while pumping blood. It is the upper (higher) number of the two measuring blood pressure.
Related conditions
{"label":"BP diastolic reference range","scale":"lin","step":1,"hideunits":false,"items":[{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"L","long":"Low","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":40,"max":60},"text":"Some people can naturally have low blood pressure levels. However, in most cases, a BP lower than 90\/60 can cause signs and symptoms of hypotension, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, blurry vision, and nausea. ","conditions":["Hypotension","Dehydration","Blood loss","Pregnancy","Some medications"]},{"flag":"normal","label":{"short":"N","long":"Normal","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":60,"max":81},"text":"Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. It is the lower number of the two measuring blood pressure.","conditions":[]},{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"H","long":"High","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":81,"max":90},"text":"At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe lifestyle changes and may consider adding blood pressure medication based on your risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack or stroke. ","conditions":["Hypertension Stage 1","Cardiovascular disease","Heart attack","Stroke","Chronic kidney disease"]},{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"VH","long":"Very high","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":90,"max":120},"text":"At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications along with lifestyle changes.","conditions":["Hypertension Stage 2","Cardiovascular disease","Heart attack","Stroke","Chronic kidney disease"]}],"units":[{"printSymbol":"mm\u00a0Hg","code":"mm[Hg]","name":"millimeter of mercury"}],"value":70}[{"abnormal":0},{"normal":0},{"abnormal":0},{"abnormal":1}]
Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mm Hg
60
81
90
Your result is Normal.
Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. It is the lower number of the two measuring blood pressure.
Related conditions
Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into your arteries. A blood pressure measurement is a test that measures the force (pressure) in your arteries as your heart pumps. Blood pressure is measured as two numbers:
- Systolic blood pressure (the first and higher number) measures pressure inside your arteries when the heart beats.
- Diastolic blood pressure (the second and lower number) measures the pressure inside the artery when the heart rests between beats.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects tens of millions of adults in the United States. It increases the risk of life-threatening conditions including heart attack and stroke. But high blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. A blood pressure measurement helps diagnose high blood pressure early, so it may be treated before it leads to serious complications.
A blood pressure measurement is most often used to diagnose high blood pressure.
Blood pressure that's too low, known as hypotension, is much less common. But you may get tested for low blood pressure if you have certain symptoms. Unlike high blood pressure, low blood pressure usually causes symptoms. These include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Cold, sweaty skin
- Pale skin
- Fainting
- Weakness
A blood pressure measurement is often included as part of a regular checkup. Adults 18 years and older should have their blood pressure measured at least once every two to five years. You should get tested every year if you have certain risk factors. You may be at higher risk if you:
- Are 40 years old or older
- Are overweight or have obesity
- Have a family history of heart disease or diabetes
- Take birth control pills
- Are Black/African American. Black/African Americans have a higher rate of high blood pressure than other racial and ethnic groups
You may need this test if you have symptoms of low blood pressure.
A blood pressure test includes the following steps:
- You will sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
- You will rest your arm on a table or other surface, so your arm is level with your heart. You may be asked to roll up your sleeve.
- Your provider will wrap a blood pressure cuff around your arm. A blood pressure cuff is a strap-like device. It should fit snugly around your upper arm, with the bottom edge placed just above your elbow.
- Your provider will inflate the blood pressure cuff using a small hand pump or by pressing a button on an automated device.
- Your provider will measure the pressure manually (by hand) or with an automated device.
  If manually, he or she will place a stethoscope over the major artery in your upper arm to listen to the blood flow and pulse as the cuff inflates and deflates.
  If using an automated device, the blood pressure cuff automatically inflates, deflates, and measures pressure.
- As the blood pressure cuff inflates, you'll feel it tighten around your arm.
- Your provider will then open a valve on the cuff to slowly release air from it. As the cuff deflates, blood pressure will fall.
- As the pressure falls, a measurement is taken when the sound of blood pulsing is first heard. This is the systolic pressure.
- As the air continues to be let out, the blood pulsing sound will start to go away. When it completely stops, another measurement is taken. This is the diastolic pressure.
This test only takes about one minute to complete.

Your results, also known as a blood pressure reading, will contain two numbers. The top or first number is the systolic pressure. The bottom or second number is the diastolic pressure. High blood pressure readings are also labeled by categories, ranging from normal to crisis. Your reading may show your blood pressure is:

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic Blood Pressure		Diastolic Blood Pressure
Normal	Less than 120	and	Less than 80
High Blood Pressure (no other heart risk factors)	140 or higher	or	90 or higher
High Blood Pressure (with other heart risk factors, according to some providers)	130 or higher	or	80 or higher
Dangerously high blood pressure - seek medical care right away	180 or higher	and	120 or higher

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes and/or medicines to control your blood pressure. Your provider may also recommend that you regularly check your blood pressure at home with an automated blood pressure monitor. An at-home blood pressure monitor usually includes a blood pressure cuff and a digital device to record and display blood pressure readings.

Home monitoring is not a replacement for regular visits to your provider. But it can provide important information, such as whether treatment is working or your condition may have worsened. Also, home monitoring may make the test less stressful. Many people get nervous about getting their blood pressure taken at a provider's office. This is called "white coat syndrome." It can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure, making the results less accurate. For more information about home monitoring of blood pressure, talk to your provider.

If you were tested for low blood pressure, a blood pressure reading of 90 systolic, 60 diastolic (90/60) or lower is considered abnormal. Treatments for low blood pressure may include medicines and making certain changes to your diet.

If you were diagnosed with high blood pressure, your provider may recommend one or more of the following lifestyle changes.
- Exercise regularly. Staying active can help lower your blood pressure and also help manage your weight. Most adults should aim for 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Check with your provider before beginning an exercise program.
- Keep a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing as little as 5 pounds can lower your blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetable, and whole grains. Limit foods high in saturated fat and total fat.
- Reduce salt in your diet. Most adults should have less than 1500 mg of salt per day.
- Limit alcohol use. If you choose to drink, limit yourself to one drink a day if you are a woman; two drinks a day if you're a man.
- Don't smoke.
1. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/measure.htm [accessed on Mar 24, 2019]
2. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-pressure [accessed on Mar 24, 2019]
3. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/node/80139 [accessed on Mar 24, 2019]
4. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure [accessed on Mar 24, 2019]
5. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/01/experts-lower-high-blood-pressure-numbers [accessed on Mar 24, 2019]
6. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2016/01/blood-pressure-matters [accessed on Mar 24, 2019]
7. https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2017/11/09/11/41/2017-guideline-for-high-blood-pressure-in-adults [accessed on Mar 27, 2019]
8. https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2017/11/14/14/42/the-2017-high-blood-pressure-guideline-risk-reduction-through-better-management [accessed on Mar 27, 2019]

Additional Materials (50)

This browser does not support the video element.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is stated as two numbers that represent the highest and lowest pressure your heart attains during a single beat. The first or top number represents the pressure when your heart contracts: the systolic pressure. The second or bottom number represents the pressure when your heart rests between beats: the diastolic pressure.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

What is Hypertension?

Go deep inside the human body to understand how your blood pressure works, as you travel into the vessels to see the damage that high blood pressure leaves in its wake. Listen to some of the world's top doctors, including renowned cardiologist Mehmet Oz, talk about why hypertension is "the silent killer" and how you can defend yourself against it.

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SPRINT Participant Has Blood Pressure Measured

In this image: Mr. Curtis Minor, 58 year old AA Male who is taking part in the SPRINT study at Downtown Health Plaza with Miriam Baird, RN. A major NIH-funded clinical trial has discovered nuanced evidence linking brain and vascular health.

Image by National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Man getting Blood Pressure Reading

Some risk factors for prostate cancer are controllable, some aren't. Knowing what the risk factors are can help you to lower your chances of getting prostate cancer and to make decisions about beginning screening.

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Doctor Taking Woman's Blood Pressure

This image shows a female patient having blood pressure read by a male doctor and by using a blood pressure cuff in a clinical setting. Hypertension is often referred to as the \"silent killer,\" because it can cause no symptoms and go undetected for years. And as hypertension goes undiagnosed, the delicate linings of your blood vessels are being damaged, particularly those of the heart, the kidneys, and the eyes. Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure; it has nothing to do with whether a person is considered tense or high-strung. Blood pressure is the measurement of the force the blood exerts as it pushes against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure is measured by a blood pressure cuff that is wrapped around your upper arm. Originally the readings referred to the height of a displaced column of mercury, but as in thermometers, the mercury yardstick is giving way to digital technologies. The \"top\" or first number-systolic pressure-represents the blood's pressure as the heart is contracted. The \"bottom\" or second number-diastolic pressure-represents the blood's pressure in the vessels when the heart is relaxed. Normal blood pressure is in the range of 120 (systolic) over 70 (diastolic).

Image by TheVisualMD

Blood Pressure

Taking a person's blood pressure

Image by BruceBlaus

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is stated as two numbers that represent the highest and lowest pressure your heart attains during a single beat. The first or top number represents the pressure when your heart contracts: the systolic pressure. The second or bottom number represents the pressure when your heart rests between beats: the diastolic pressure.

Image by TheVisualMD

Blood Pressure Ranges

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an important risk factor for strokes and heart attacks. A physician uses a sphygomomanometer to measure a patient's blood pressure by inflating a rubber cuff around his or her arm. The reading is shown on the scale represented in this image. Systolic pressure refers to the pressure in an artery when the heart beats, or contracts. This number is higher than the diastolic pressure, which is occuring when the heart is at rest, between beats. Average blood pressure for adults is 120/80, with the systolic pressure denoted over the diastolic pressure.

Image by TheVisualMD

Man with Visible Brain and Heart

The most obvious way in which your body manages blood flow and pressure is to change the heart rate. When the pulse rate goes up, in general, the pressure in the system goes up, which in turns drives the blood around the body more quickly. The blood vessels themselves also play an important role in pressure-management. Blood vessels are \"living pipes\". They're elastic and flexible and have special sensors called baroreceptors that monitor the ebb and flow of blood. Baroreceptors are actually nerve bundles that provide immediate feedback to the brain. With this information and depending on the needs of the moment, the arteries dilate and contract to help propel blood through the system. Blood can be diverted to muscles during exercise, for example, or away from the skin during cold weather to avoid heat loss. The arteries can contract to prevent blood loss due to injury or dilate to flood the face for that telling blush.

Image by TheVisualMD

Arm with Blood Pressure Cuff

This diagram represents the number of individuals affected with hypertension. The American Heart Association estimates that nearly one-third of Americans have hypertension.

Image by TheVisualMD

Keeping Blood Pressure Healthy

Image by TheVisualMD

Medicating High Blood Pressure

If lifestyle changes don’t reduce blood pressure to an acceptable level, doctors will generally prescribe antihypertensive medications. There are a number of different types of antihypertensives available. The most commonly prescribed include: Thiazide diuretics. Often the first drug prescribed, diuretics dilate blood vessels and also decrease fluid volume in the body by helping the kidneys to eliminate salt and water. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE inhibitors reduce hypertension by dilating arterioles (the smallest divisions of the arteries, linking the arteries and the capillaries). They do this by blocking the production of ACE, a naturally occurring substance that constricts blood vessels. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Like ACE inhibitors, ARBs dilate arterioles, but they accomplish this by preventing ACE from having any effect on the heart and blood vessels. ARBs are often prescribed for people who experience adverse side effects from ACE inhibitors.

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Lipids (Cholesterol)

Lipid Tests

Also called: Lipid Panel, Lipid Profile, Lipid Testing, Lipoprotein Profile

Lipid tests measure triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream, and cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood and every cell of your body. High levels of triglycerides and/or a type of cholesterol, called LDL can put you at risk for heart disease.

Lipid Tests

Also called: Lipid Panel, Lipid Profile, Lipid Testing, Lipoprotein Profile

Lipid tests measure triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream, and cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood and every cell of your body. High levels of triglycerides and/or a type of cholesterol, called LDL can put you at risk for heart disease.

1. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-cholesterol [accessed on Sep 29, 2019]
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK351/ [accessed on Sep 29, 2019]

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Lipid Panel Interpretation

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Cholesterol - what is it and how can you prevent high cholesterol?

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Cholesterol Blood Test

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Cholesterol & Atherosclerosis

While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system (as used in MeSH), it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease). Everyone talks about high cholesterol and how bad it is for you. But why is it bad for you? Where does it come from? What's the difference between "good" and "bad" cholesterol? Take a journey inside the body and explore its vessels, as world-renowned doctors explain what cholesterol is all about and how it contributes to hardening of the arteries, a dangerous condition also known as atherosclerosis.

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What cholesterol is and what cholesterol blood tests show

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What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Video by TheVisualMD

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Fiber and Lowering Cholesterol

Take steps towards better health exploring why a diet rich in soluble fiber is a great way to help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol. Soluble fiber (found in oats, apples, beans, barley) acts like a cholesterol sponge, soaking up "bad" LDL cholesterol in the small intestine and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. It can also help regulate blood sugar and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Fasting for a Blood Test | WebMD

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Fasting Plasma Glucose

Fasting Plasma Glucose - The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, also known as the fasting blood sugar test, measures blood sugar levels and is used to diagnose diabetes.

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Triglycerides Test

Triglycerides Test

Also called: TRIG

A triglycerides test measures the amount of triglycerides in your blood. High triglyceride levels may put you at risk for heart disease. The test is usually part of a lipid profile.

Triglycerides Test

Also called: TRIG

A triglycerides test measures the amount of triglycerides in your blood. High triglyceride levels may put you at risk for heart disease. The test is usually part of a lipid profile.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
150
200
500
Your result is Optimal.
For adults, triglyceride levels less than 150 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) are considered optimal.
Related conditions
Healthy adults should get a lipid profile, which includes a triglycerides test, every four to six years. You may need to be tested more often if you have certain risk factors for heart disease. These include:
- Family history of heart disease
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Lack of exercise
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Age. Men 45 years or older and women 50 years or older are at a higher risk for heart disease
Triglycerides are usually measured in milligrams (mg) of triglycerides per deciliter (dL) of blood. For adults, results are usually categorized as:
- Normal/desirable triglyceride range: less than 150mg/dL
- Borderline high triglyceride range: 150 to 199 mg/dL
- High triglyceride range: 200 to 499 mg/dL
- Very high triglyceride range: 500 mg/dL and above
Higher than normal triglyceride levels may put you at risk for heart disease. To reduce your levels and lower your risk, your health care provider may recommend lifestyle changes and/or prescribe medicines.
If your results were borderline high, your provider may recommend that you:
- Lose weight
- Eat a healthier diet
- Get more exercise
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Take a cholesterol lowering medicine
If your results were high or very high, your provider may recommend the same lifestyle changes as above and also that you:
- Follow a very low-fat diet
- Lose a significant amount of weight
- Take medicine or medicines designed to lower triglycerides
Be sure to talk to your health care provider before making any major changes to your diet or exercise routine.
1. Triglycerides Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on May 17, 2022]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (39)

Triglycerides

A Triglyceride model showing the positions of Sn1, Sn2 and Sn3, fatty acids, and the glycerol backbone

Image by Roger Daniels, Bunge Oils Director of Research & Development

Excess fat cells growing on top of the muscle tissue

Triglycerides are a large and varied category of fats found in both plants and animals. Because fats and blood, like oil and water, do not mix, triglycerides (as well as cholesterol) circulate through the body in special parcels called lipoproteins, which are fat-and-protein packages that enable fats to move freely within the bloodstream. Proteins and other components make up the outer shell; fats, in the form of triglycerides and cholesterol, are packed together inside.

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipids and Lipoproteins

Lipids and Lipoproteins

Image by TheVisualMD

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Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

Your blood "knows" what you eat, meaning that the cardiovascular system is a sensitive barometer of a person's health, including diet. What individuals eat is reflected in their blood chemistry and the health of their heart, arteries and vessels. Fats (also known as lipids), for example, are vital to health and wellbeing throughout our lives and yet they are mostly associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The problem is that not all fats (or cholesterol) are equal. They share basic chemical similarities, but they also have important differences, which, in turn, result in different roles and effects in the body. Tests that offer information on diet and heart health include total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), and triglycerides.

Video by TheVisualMD

Thoracic Duct

The lymphatic system consists of a network of vessels and nodes that collect and carry a clear fluid called lymph that plays roles in immune function as well as the transport of nutrients. The thoracic duct, which is the largest vessel in the lymphatic system, delivers lymph into the bloodstream, including lymph from the intestinal system, called chyle, which is milky rich in fats.

Image by TheVisualMD

Triglyceride Molecule

Triglycerides are the body's primary form of stored fat. When you consume excess calories, your body converts them right away into triglycerides. In the liver, triglycerides are packaged up with cholesterol and with proteins in carriers called lipoproteins, which are transported through the blood to various sites of the body to be stored in fat cells. Luckily for anyone with a high triglyceride reading in their lipid profile, levels can often be lowered by making smart changes to the diet. Even if you are prescribed medication to lower triglyceride levels, your physician will also recommend improving food choices. In this model, carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen atoms are white, and oxygen atoms are red.

Image by TheVisualMD

Triglyceride Molecule

Triglycerides are the body's primary form of stored fat. When you consume excess calories, your body converts them right away into triglycerides. In the liver, triglycerides are packaged up with cholesterol and with proteins in carriers called lipoproteins, which are transported through the blood to various sites of the body to be stored in fat cells. Luckily for anyone with a high triglyceride reading in their lipid profile, levels can often be lowered by making smart changes to the diet. Even if you are prescribed medication to lower triglyceride levels, your physician will also recommend improving food choices. In this model, carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen atoms are white, and oxygen atoms are red.

Image by TheVisualMD

Lowering Triglycerides - Mayo Clinic

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

Tri HDL

Video by ACAP Health/YouTube

Triglycerides: Liver and Intestines

The liver is the body's central chemical plant, removing toxins, storing sugars and lipids and producing a wide range of proteins that play key roles as enzymes. The liver also produces packages cholesterol and triglycerides, along with special proteins, into lipoproteins.

Image by TheVisualMD

Triglycerides: Triglyceride

Triglycerides are a large and varied category of fats found in both plants and animals. When we eat our bodies convert excess calories into triglycerides, which can be stored in fat cells and then released as needed into the bloodstream for energy between meals.

Image by TheVisualMD

LDL-Particles: Triglycerides

One factor that may contribute to a high LDL particle count is raised levels of triglycerides. Elevated triglyceride levels in the blood start a chain of biochemical reactions that eventually leads to a reduction in the size of LDL particles. The smaller LDL particles can't carry as much cholesterol as larger LDL particles, so a greater number of them is needed to carry a given amount of cholesterol.

Image by TheVisualMD

Triglycerides and HDL

Video by Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube

Asian Heart Hospital - What is Triglycerides?

Video by Asian Heart Institute/YouTube

What is Plaque?

Video by CardioTabs/YouTube

Lipid Absorption

Lipid Absorption

Image by OpenStax College

lipid vesicles in these adipocytes

The preadipocyte cell line PA6 fully differentiated into adipocytes. The lipid vesicles in these adipocytes are stained using oil-red-O staining.

Image by M. Oktar Guloglu

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Breast Milk Component Pathway

The components of breast milk are brought together in the alveoli via different routes. Breast milk constituents are either absorbed from the bloodstream from nutrients in the mother's diet or synthesized in special milk-producing cells called lactocytes. These constituents are brought together in the alveoli via different routes. Some components pass through or between the lactocytes, while others are assembled within the lactocytes.

Image by TheVisualMD

Maintaining Cardiovascular Health

This series of images illustrates diet and lifestyle changes that help maintain cardiovascular health, and which may actually help improve existing damage. From left to right: 1) A woman eats an apple, with visible cardiovascular system and digestive system. 2) Fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, are high in fiber which helps keep blood lipid levels healthy. 3) Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are better for heart health than trans fats and saturated fats. Good sources include those shown: nuts, seeds, olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids like those found in salmon. 4) A woman takes a vigorous walk with muscles, skeletal bones and heart visible. Regular exercise in combination with a heart-healthy diet helps keep your heart and blood vessels in top condition.

Image by TheVisualMD

Fat Cells Growing on the Surface of a Blood Vessel

This image shows mature fat cells growing on the surface of a blood vessel. The image is from an animation that shows how fat cells, or adipocytes, expand and contribute to obesity. Some tissue is also visible in the image.

Image by TheVisualMD

Healthy Cell Membrane

This image shows the healthy membrane of an endothelial cell in a blood vessel wall. You can see the semi-permeable double layer of phospholipids that allows lipids to move across the membrane. The cholesterol molecules (yellow) maintain permeability by keeping the phospholipid tails from sticking together.

Image by TheVisualMD

Coronary Artery Disease

Image by TheVisualMD

Coronary Artery Disease - Managing Atherosclerosis Risk

Managing Atherosclerosis Risk : Certain lifestyle habits, traits, and conditions may increase the probability that you'll develop atherosclerosis. These conditions are known as risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing atherosclerosis. Fortunately, most of these risk factors are within your control.

Image by TheVisualMD

Abnormal blood lipid levels and hypertension both increase the risk of atherosclerosis

Message From The Heart : Abnormal blood lipid levels and hypertension both increase the risk of atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis, cholesterol and other substances create hard, waxy plaques inside your arteries, narrowing them and making it more difficult for blood to get through.

Image by TheVisualMD

Fat: What Is It Good For?

Adipose tissue (fat tissue) is a type of connective tissue. The two main types of adipose tissue in humans are subcutaneous (under the skin) and visceral (inside the abdomen). Adipose tissue performs many functions in your body. Its main job is to store energy in the form of lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol). When you eat fatty foods, often there are more lipids than you need for energy at that time. The excess lipids are stored in your adipose tissue. The same holds true for proteins and carbohydrates—when you eat more of them than you need immediately, excess amounts are converted to lipids and stored in adipose tissue for future use.

Image by TheVisualMD

Coronary Artery Disease - Risk Factors Of Atherosclerosis

Risk Factors Of Atherosclerosis : Scientists think that immune system cells may gather at injures areas of the lining of the arteries in an attempt to "heal" the damage. Lipids like cholesterol adhere as well, together with other substances in the blood like calcium and fibrin (connective tissue). Together they form the hard, fatty deposit called plaques.

Image by TheVisualMD

Getting to the Heart of Things

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, the blood vessels, and the blood itself. Blood is mostly made up of plasma and red and white blood cells. But it contains many other substances as well, like platelets, hormones, and nutrients such as glucose. The cardiovascular system distributes these substances throughout the body as needed and collects waste products from your cells for elimination.

Image by TheVisualMD

Obese Child Showing Cardiovascular System and Visceral Fat

Most of the kids diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are obese. Normally, insulin in the blood binds with an insulin receptor on a cell surface to allow glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cell. In type 2 diabetes, insulin doesn't work to allow glucose into the cell. Obesity and its related conditions, such as high blood pressure, abnormal glucose tolerance, and high lipid levels, are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Most of us think of CVD, the leading cause of death in the US, as an adult disease. But CVD can begin early on, even in childhood, and get progressively worse. Obese children and children with abnormally high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels can develop fatty streaks in their arteries, the first steps in the formation of plaques. Some may even develop plaques. CVD has become a pediatric disease.

Image by TheVisualMD

Obese Young Child Showing Cardiovascular System and Visceral Fat

Most of the kids diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are obese. Normally, insulin in the blood binds with an insulin receptor on a cell surface to allow glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cell. In type 2 diabetes, insulin doesn't work to allow glucose into the cell. Obesity and its related conditions, such as high blood pressure, abnormal glucose tolerance, and high lipid levels, are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Most of us think of CVD, the leading cause of death in the US, as an adult disease. But CVD can begin early on, even in childhood, and get progressively worse. Obese children and children with abnormally high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels can develop fatty streaks in their arteries, the first steps in the formation of plaques. Some may even develop plaques. CVD has become a pediatric disease.

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipoproteins

Lipoproteins are protein spheres that transport lipids through your bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Bile Acids

Digestion of Fats : You need cholesterol in order to digest food. One of the other major uses of cholesterol is the production of bile acids (also known as bile salts) in the liver. Bile contains a number of ingredients, including water, cholesterol, and bile acids. Bile is necessary for the absorption of fats from fecal matter passing through the intestine.

Image by TheVisualMD

Statins Lowering Cholesterol

Statins lower cholesterol levels by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. They also increase the capacity of the liver to remove cholesterol from the blood. When less produced and more gets removed from the bloodstream, the level of cholesterol can drop significantly.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerosis Risk Factors, Major Risk Factors You Can Control:

Image by TheVisualMD

Triglyceride Molecule

Triglycerides are the body's primary form of stored fat. When you consume excess calories, your body converts them right away into triglycerides. In the liver, triglycerides are packaged up with cholesterol and with proteins in carriers called lipoproteins, which are transported through the blood to various sites of the body to be stored in fat cells. Luckily for anyone with a high triglyceride reading in their lipid profile, levels can often be lowered by making smart changes to the diet. Even if you are prescribed medication to lower triglyceride levels, your physician will also recommend improving food choices. In this model, carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen atoms are white, and oxygen atoms are red

Image by TheVisualMD

The ABC's of Vitamins

Image by TheVisualMD

Triglycerides

Roger Daniels, Bunge Oils Director of Research & Development

Excess fat cells growing on top of the muscle tissue

TheVisualMD

Lipids and Lipoproteins

TheVisualMD

2:46

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

TheVisualMD

Thoracic Duct

TheVisualMD

Triglyceride Molecule

TheVisualMD

Triglyceride Molecule

TheVisualMD

2:46

Lowering Triglycerides - Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

2:17

Tri HDL

ACAP Health/YouTube

Triglycerides: Liver and Intestines

TheVisualMD

Triglycerides: Triglyceride

TheVisualMD

LDL-Particles: Triglycerides

TheVisualMD

3:25

Triglycerides and HDL

Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube

3:11

Asian Heart Hospital - What is Triglycerides?

Asian Heart Institute/YouTube

2:19

What is Plaque?

CardioTabs/YouTube

Lipid Absorption

OpenStax College

lipid vesicles in these adipocytes

M. Oktar Guloglu

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Breast Milk Component Pathway

TheVisualMD

Maintaining Cardiovascular Health

TheVisualMD

Fat Cells Growing on the Surface of a Blood Vessel

TheVisualMD

Healthy Cell Membrane

TheVisualMD

Coronary Artery Disease

TheVisualMD

Coronary Artery Disease - Managing Atherosclerosis Risk

TheVisualMD

Abnormal blood lipid levels and hypertension both increase the risk of atherosclerosis

TheVisualMD

Fat: What Is It Good For?

TheVisualMD

Coronary Artery Disease - Risk Factors Of Atherosclerosis

TheVisualMD

Getting to the Heart of Things

TheVisualMD

Obese Child Showing Cardiovascular System and Visceral Fat

TheVisualMD

Obese Young Child Showing Cardiovascular System and Visceral Fat

TheVisualMD

Lipoproteins

TheVisualMD

Bile Acids

TheVisualMD

Statins Lowering Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Cardiovascular disease

TheVisualMD

Triglyceride Molecule

TheVisualMD

The ABC's of Vitamins

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol Levels

Also called: Cholesterol Test, Blood Cholesterol Testing, Total Cholesterol

A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the amount of each type of cholesterol and certain fats in your blood. Cholesterol is needed to carry out functions such as hormone and vitamin production. High cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease.

Cholesterol Levels

Also called: Cholesterol Test, Blood Cholesterol Testing, Total Cholesterol

A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the amount of each type of cholesterol and certain fats in your blood. Cholesterol is needed to carry out functions such as hormone and vitamin production. High cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
200
240
Your result is Desirable.
While cholesterol levels can vary widely among healthy individuals, total cholesterol levels below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered most desirable.
Related conditions
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
40
60
Your result is Desirable.
HDL levels between 40-50 mg/dL for men, and 50-60 mg/dl for women, are associated with average risk of heart disease. The higher HDL levels, the better.
Related conditions
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
100
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Your result is Optimal.
The optimal level of LDL has changed over time and depends on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease and stroke. Generally, you want your LDL to be low. It's possible to have extremely low levels of LDL, but this is rare.
Related conditions
A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and certain fats in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in your blood and every cell of your body. You need some cholesterol to keep your cells and organs healthy.
Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you can also get cholesterol from the foods you eat, especially meat, eggs, poultry, and dairy products. Foods that are high in dietary fat can also make your liver produce more cholesterol.
There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.
Too much LDL cholesterol in your blood increases your risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases. High LDL levels can cause the buildup of a sticky substance called plaque in your arteries. Over time, plaque can narrow your arteries or fully block them. When this happens, parts of your body don't get enough blood:
- If the blood flow to the heart is blocked, it can cause a heart attack.
- If the blood flow to the brain is blocked, it can cause a stroke.
- If the blood flow to the arms or legs is blocked, it can cause peripheral artery disease.
Other names for a cholesterol test: Lipid profile, Lipid panel
A cholesterol test gives you and your health care provider important information about your risk of developing heart disease. If your test shows you have high cholesterol, you can take steps to lower it. This may decrease your risk of developing heart problems in the future. A cholesterol test measures:
- LDL levels. Also known as the "bad" cholesterol, LDL is the main source of blockages in the arteries.
- HDL levels. Considered the "good" cholesterol, HDL helps get rid of "bad" LDL cholesterol.
- Total cholesterol. The combined amount of LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in your blood.
- Triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Some studies show that high levels of triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease, especially in women.
- VLDL levels. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is another type of "bad" cholesterol. High VLDL levels have been linked to plaque buildup in the arteries. VLDL isn't usually included in routine cholesterol tests because it's difficult to measure. About half of VLDL is triglycerides, so your VLDL level can be estimated as a percentage of your triglyceride level.
Your provider may order a cholesterol test as part of a routine exam. You may also have a cholesterol test if you have a family history of heart disease or if your risk for heart problems is high because of:
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Smoking
- Excess weight or obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- A diet high in saturated fat
Your age may also be a factor, because your risk for heart disease increases as you get older.

Cholesterol is usually measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. The information below will help you understand what your test results mean. In general, low LDL levels and high HDL cholesterol levels are good for heart health.

Total cholesterol

Total Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 200mg/dL	Desirable
200-239 mg/dL	Borderline high
240mg/dL and above	High

LDL (bad) cholesterol

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level	LDL Cholesterol Category
Less than 100mg/dL	Optimal (best for your health)
100-129mg/dL	Near optimal
130-159 mg/dL	Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL	High
190 mg/dL and above	Very High

HDL (good) cholesterol

HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level	HDL Cholesterol Category
60 mg/dL and higher	Considered protective against heart disease
40-59 mg/dL	The higher, the better
Less than 40 mg/dL	A major risk factor for heart disease

The LDL listed on your results may say "calculated." This means that your LDL level is an estimate based on your total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. Your LDL level may also be measured "directly" from your blood sample. Either way, you want your LDL number to be low.

A healthy cholesterol level for you may depend on your age, family history, lifestyle, and other risk factors for heart disease, such as high triglyceride levels. Your provider can explain what's right for you.

High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. You can't change some risk factors for high cholesterol, such as age and your genes. But there are actions you can take to lower your LDL levels and reduce your risk, including:
- Eating a healthy diet. Reducing or avoiding foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol can help reduce the cholesterol levels in your blood.
- Losing weight. Being overweight can increase your cholesterol and risk for heart disease.
- Staying active. Regular exercise may help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and raise your HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It may also help you lose weight.
Talk to your provider before making any major change in your diet or exercise routine.
1. Cholesterol Levels: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Apr 29, 2024]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (12)

Total Cholesterol: Heart

The heart beats about 100,000 times a day, pumping blood through a vast system of arteries, veins and microscopic capillaries. While many risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including cholesterol levels, are related to lifestyle, others are largely genetic.

Image by TheVisualMD

Total Cholesterol: Heart and Liver

The liver produces most of the body's cholesterol in order to package fats in the form of lipoproteins. HDL is referred to as \"good\" cholesterol because it picks up excess cholesterol in the bloodstream and carries it back to the liver for disposal.

Image by TheVisualMD

Total Cholesterol: Thrombus

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel. If the clot is large or persistent enough, it can obstruct blood flow, which can starve tissue of oxygen-carrying blood. Most strokes are the result of thrombosis.

Image by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

Your blood "knows" what you eat, meaning that the cardiovascular system is a sensitive barometer of a person's health, including diet. What individuals eat is reflected in their blood chemistry and the health of their heart, arteries and vessels. Fats (also known as lipids), for example, are vital to health and wellbeing throughout our lives and yet they are mostly associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The problem is that not all fats (or cholesterol) are equal. They share basic chemical similarities, but they also have important differences, which, in turn, result in different roles and effects in the body. Tests that offer information on diet and heart health include total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), and triglycerides.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

What Is Atherosclerosis?

Voyage inside your body to see where cholesterol is made and how plaques form inside your arteries. Witness the inner workings of your own personal cholesterol factory: your liver. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Peter Fail, and other top experts talk about cholesterol-how it accumulates with other substances in your arteries as plaque, and what happens when plaques rupture. See exactly how tiny stents are inserted in blocked vessels, and view footage of actual bypass surgery. Discover how you can keep your arteries clear and flexible through lifestyle changes and medications.

Video by TheVisualMD

What cholesterol is and what cholesterol blood tests show

Video by Bupa Health UK/YouTube

Cholesterol Blood Test

Video by Baptist Health Physician Partners/YouTube

Cholesterol - what is it and how can you prevent high cholesterol?

Video by Healthchanneltv / cherishyourhealthtv/YouTube

Cholesterol Good and Bad

Video by The National Library of Medicine/YouTube

This browser does not support the video element.

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Refined Carbohydrates and Atherosclerosis

Refined Carbohydrates and Atherosclerosis : In atherosclerosis, hard, fatty deposits called plaque build up inside your arteries. For decades it was thought that eating too many fatty foods, especially foods rich in cholesterol, was to blame for plaque accumulation.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Cardiovascular Inflammation

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. The most common cause of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries that leads to the hardening of arterial walls and the buildup of fatty deposits called plaques, or atheromas. Although the process of inflammation can be beneficial in other parts of the body, chronic inflammation within arterial walls is problematic as it seems to promote this underlying growth of plaque. The combination of arterial inflammation and the growth of plaque can lead to the rupture of the plaque, and result in a blood clot. Blood clots can lead to dangerous conditions such as heart attack or stroke.

Video by TheVisualMD

Total Cholesterol: Heart

TheVisualMD

Total Cholesterol: Heart and Liver

TheVisualMD

Total Cholesterol: Thrombus

TheVisualMD

2:46

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

TheVisualMD

3:10

What Is Atherosclerosis?

TheVisualMD

3:53

What cholesterol is and what cholesterol blood tests show

Bupa Health UK/YouTube

3:06

Cholesterol Blood Test

Baptist Health Physician Partners/YouTube

2:42

Cholesterol - what is it and how can you prevent high cholesterol?

Healthchanneltv / cherishyourhealthtv/YouTube

3:01

Cholesterol Good and Bad

The National Library of Medicine/YouTube

0:45

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

2:21

Refined Carbohydrates and Atherosclerosis

TheVisualMD

4:26

Cardiovascular Inflammation

TheVisualMD

High-Density Lipoprotein Test

High-Density Lipoprotein Test

Also called: HDL, HDL-C, HDL Cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is the "good" cholesterol. It helps to remove bad cholesterol from your arteries, so a higher HDL level is better.

High-Density Lipoprotein Test

Also called: HDL, HDL-C, HDL Cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is the "good" cholesterol. It helps to remove bad cholesterol from your arteries, so a higher HDL level is better.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
40
60
Your result is Desirable.
HDL levels between 40-50 mg/dL for men, and 50-60 mg/dl for women, are associated with average risk of heart disease. The higher HDL levels, the better.
Related conditions
HDL and LDL are two types of lipoproteins.They are a combination of fat (lipid) and protein. The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so they can move through the blood. HDL and LDL have different purposes:
- HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body.
- LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries.
A blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including HDL. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:
For people who are age 19 or younger:
- The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
- Children should have the test again every 5 years
- Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke
For people who are age 20 or older:
- Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
- Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years
If your HDL level is too low, lifestyle changes may help. These changes may also help prevent other diseases, and make you feel better overall:
- Eat a healthy diet. To raise your HDL level, you need to eat good fats instead of bad fats. This means limiting saturated fats, which include full-fat milk and cheese, high-fat meats like sausage and bacon, and foods made with butter, lard, and shortening. You should also avoid trans fats, which may be in some margarines, fried foods, and processed foods like baked goods. Instead, eat unsaturated fats, which are found in avocado, vegetable oils like olive oil, and nuts. Limit carbohydrates, especially sugar. Also try to eat more foods naturally high in fiber, such as oatmeal and beans.
- Stay at a healthy weight. You can boost your HDL level by losing weight, especially if you have lots of fat around your waist.
- Exercise. Getting regular exercise can raise your HDL level, as well as lower your LDL. You should try to do 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise on most, if not all, days.
- Avoid cigarettes. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can lower your HDL level. If you are a smoker, ask your health care provider for help in finding the best way for you to quit. You should also try to avoid secondhand smoke.
- Limit alcohol. Moderate alcohol may lower your HDL level, although more studies are needed to confirm that. What we do know is that too much alcohol can make you gain weight, and that lowers your HDL level.
Some cholesterol medicines, including certain statins, can raise your HDL level, in addition to lowering your LDL level. Health care providers don't usually prescribe medicines only to raise HDL. But if you have a low HDL and high LDL level, you might need medicine.
Taking certain medicines can lower HDL levels in some people. They include
- Beta blockers, a type of blood pressure medicine
- Anabolic steroids, including testosterone, a male hormone
- Progestins, which are female hormones that are in some birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
- Benzodiazepines, sedatives that are often used for anxiety and insomnia
If you are taking one of these and you have a very low HDL level, ask your provider if you should continue to take them.
Diabetes can also lower your HDL level, so that gives you another reason to manage your diabetes.
1. HDL: The "Good" Cholesterol: MedlinePlus [accessed on Oct 08, 2018]
2. Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know: MedlinePlus [accessed on Oct 08, 2018]
3. High blood cholesterol levels: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Oct 08, 2018]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (21)

HDL and LDL Molecules Subfractionization

The standard lipid profile, which measures the quantity of LDL and HDL cholesterol in the blood stream, has proven itself to be very useful in identifying many people who are risk for heart disease. But it doesn't catch everyone at risk. A more detailed lipid profile, called lipoprotein subfraction testing, divides the basic cholesterol groups into finer categories, which makes possible more accurate risk assessment. This interactive features all of the different tests involved in a lipid panel- HDL, LDL and VLDL, and the different subclasses for each.

Image by TheVisualMD

LDL particle

LDL (low-density lipoprotein or \"bad cholesterol\") along with HDL (high-density lipoprotein or \"good cholesterol\") are the two main types of cholesterol particles in the bloodstream. LDL is referred to as \"bad\" cholesterol because it forms deposits (plaque) in the lining of blood vessels. The size and density of the lipoprotein determines whether its cholesterol is classified as \"good: or \"bad\". Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are larger, lighter, and fluffier; high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are small and dense. An LDL test is part of a lipid panel that measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. Cholesterol tests do not diagnose heart disease; instead, they are used to estimate risk. And while cholesterol levels can vary widely among healthy individuals, the evidence suggests that low levels of LDL cholesterol decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke, while high levels of LDL increase that risk.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol, Healthy Heart

A heart-healthy lifestyle includes a diet based on the principles of balance, variety and moderation in the consumption of fats. Fats are essential nutrients and critical building blocks. The type of fat in a diet, however, turns out to be even more important than the total amount; there are \"good\" fats and \"bad\" dietary fats, just as there are \"good\" and \"bad\" types of cholesterol in our bloodstream. Other keys to cardiovascular health and wellbeing: get aerobic exercise, don't smoke, and drink alcohol only in moderation.

Image by TheVisualMD

Aerobic athletes in general, particularly lean ones, have lower LDL (or "bad" cholesterol) levels

There are many factors that can potentially influence cholesterol levels. Exercise may be an important one, though evidence is not definitive; studies have shown that endurance athletes have higher HDL (or \"good\" cholesterol) levels, and aerobic athletes in general, particularly lean ones, have lower LDL (or \"bad\" cholesterol) levels.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cross-Section View of HDL Lipoprotein

This image shows a cross-section of a globule of High Density-Lipoprotein (HDL). HDL has a large amount of protein, which makes it denser than other lipoproteins. The purple area shows protein content (33-57%), the off-white shell shows phospholipids (26-43%), and the yellow and red interior shows cholesterol (17-40%) and triglycerides (3-15%). HDL supplies two other lipoproteins-chylomicrons and VLDLs-with proteins that signal the liver to trap and extract their fat. HDL also sponges up excess cholesterol from blood vessel linings and carries it to the liver for removal. This reduces the risk of plaque build-up in the arteries and gives HDL its nickname \"good\" cholesterol.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol, Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fatty deposits called plaque build up inside arteries; one of the components of plaque is LDL or \"bad\" cholesterol. Over time, plaque narrows the arteries, which limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the body; plaque in coronary arteries restricts blood supply to the heart. Plaque also makes the arterial walls stiff and less elastic, which is why a common term for artherosclerosis is \"hardening\" of the arteries. To try to clean up the mess, the endothelial cells that make up the inner lining send out chemical signals that summon inflammatory cells. These cells invade the area and engulf the fatty molecules, leaving behind the fatty streaks. If the levels of cholesterol don't drop, the buildup continues. The fats start to accumulate faster than the cleanup process can remove them and develop into noticeable deposits known as plaque. As the plaques grow, so do the problems. The bulging plaque reduces the diameter of the arteries, which decreases blood flow and increases blood pressure. As a defense, the arteries start shoring up, making more support cells to cope with the rising blood pressure. The arteries become less flexible; hence the description of the condition as hardening of the arteries.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol pathway

Cholesterol is essential for the maintenance of cell membranes, production of sex hormones, and absorption of key vitamins. We get cholesterol from the foods we eat (particularly red meat, dairy and eggs), but our livers produce most of it in a multi-step process (drugs like statins interrupt this process). Cholesterol is carried in the bloodstream in specialized packages called lipoproteins.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Traveling Through Cell Membrane to HDL

This image shows the healthy membrane of an endothelial cell in a blood vessel wall. You can see the semi-permeable double layer of phospholipids that allows lipids to move across the membrane. The cholesterol molecules (yellow) maintain permeability by keeping the phospholipid tails from sticking together. Excess cholesterol molecules are passing through the phospholipid bilayer through passive, aqueous diffusion to a mature high-denisty lipoprotein (HDL) molecule. HDL is considered \"good\" cholesterol. The cell membrane benefits from this interaction with HDL and now has less cholesterol in the membrane. The HDL molecule carries the cholesterol away and back to the liver for recycling or degradation.

Image by TheVisualMD

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Molecule

High-density lipoproteins, abbreviated HDL, are small and dense protein spheres that transport cholesterol, triglyceride, and other lipids through the bloodstream. Because the density of a protein bundle is associated with its ability to gather cholesterol from cells and transport it to the liver for eventual elimination, high-density lipoproteins are commonly referred to as the \"good\" cholesterol. A heart-healthy diet is rich in HDL sources. Wholesome foods that deliver Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and soluble fibers can raise HDL levels and provide numerous health benefits, including the warding off of life-threatening diseases.

Image by TheVisualMD

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What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Cardiovascular Inflammation

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. The most common cause of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries that leads to the hardening of arterial walls and the buildup of fatty deposits called plaques, or atheromas. Although the process of inflammation can be beneficial in other parts of the body, chronic inflammation within arterial walls is problematic as it seems to promote this underlying growth of plaque. The combination of arterial inflammation and the growth of plaque can lead to the rupture of the plaque, and result in a blood clot. Blood clots can lead to dangerous conditions such as heart attack or stroke.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

Your blood "knows" what you eat, meaning that the cardiovascular system is a sensitive barometer of a person's health, including diet. What individuals eat is reflected in their blood chemistry and the health of their heart, arteries and vessels. Fats (also known as lipids), for example, are vital to health and wellbeing throughout our lives and yet they are mostly associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The problem is that not all fats (or cholesterol) are equal. They share basic chemical similarities, but they also have important differences, which, in turn, result in different roles and effects in the body. Tests that offer information on diet and heart health include total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), and triglycerides.

Video by TheVisualMD

The 5 Most Important Molecules in Your Body

Video by SciShow/YouTube

Cholesterol Blood Test

Video by Baptist Health Physician Partners/YouTube

High Cholesterol Medical Animation (Hyperlipidemia)

Video by Silverback Video/YouTube

British Heart Foundation - Cholesterol and heart disease

Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube

HDL: When Good Cholesterol Goes Bad

Video by UW Video/YouTube

Lipid Panel Interpretation

Video by FatIsNotYourFault/YouTube

Triglycerides and HDL

Video by Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube

Tri HDL

Video by ACAP Health/YouTube

HDL Molecule

HDL Molecule

Image by TheVisualMD

HDL and LDL Molecules Subfractionization

TheVisualMD

LDL particle

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol, Healthy Heart

TheVisualMD

Aerobic athletes in general, particularly lean ones, have lower LDL (or "bad" cholesterol) levels

TheVisualMD

Cross-Section View of HDL Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol, Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol pathway

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Traveling Through Cell Membrane to HDL

TheVisualMD

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Molecule

TheVisualMD

0:45

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

4:26

Cardiovascular Inflammation

TheVisualMD

2:46

Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health

TheVisualMD

7:55

The 5 Most Important Molecules in Your Body

SciShow/YouTube

3:06

Cholesterol Blood Test

Baptist Health Physician Partners/YouTube

1:19

High Cholesterol Medical Animation (Hyperlipidemia)

Silverback Video/YouTube

6:23

British Heart Foundation - Cholesterol and heart disease

British Heart Foundation/YouTube

54:59

HDL: When Good Cholesterol Goes Bad

UW Video/YouTube

1:16:38

Lipid Panel Interpretation

FatIsNotYourFault/YouTube

3:25

Triglycerides and HDL

Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube

2:17

Tri HDL

ACAP Health/YouTube

HDL Molecule

TheVisualMD

Low Density Lipoprotein Test

Low Density Lipoprotein Test

Also called: LDL, LDL-C, LDL Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the "bad" cholesterol. A high LDL level can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Too much LDL is linked to heart disease and stroke.

Low Density Lipoprotein Test

Also called: LDL, LDL-C, LDL Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the "bad" cholesterol. A high LDL level can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Too much LDL is linked to heart disease and stroke.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
100
130
160
190
Your result is Optimal.
The optimal level of LDL has changed over time and depends on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease and stroke. Generally, you want your LDL to be low. It's possible to have extremely low levels of LDL, but this is rare.
Related conditions
LDL and HDL are two types of lipoproteins. They are a combination of fat (lipid) and protein. The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so they can move through the blood. LDL and HDL have different purposes:
- LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries.
- HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body.
A blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including LDL. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:
For people who are age 19 or younger:
- The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
- Children should have the test again every 5 years
- Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke
For people who are age 20 or older:
- Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
- Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years
Things that can affect your LDL level include
- Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level rise
- Weight. Being overweight tends to raise your LDL level, lower your HDL level, and increase your total cholesterol level
- Physical Activity. A lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain, which can raise your LDL level
- Smoking. Cigarette smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove LDL from your arteries, if you have less HDL, that can contribute to you having a higher LDL level.
- Age and Gender. As women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After the age of menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise.
- Genetics. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High cholesterol can run in families. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of high blood cholesterol.
- Medicines. Certain medicines, including steroids, some blood pressure medicines, and HIV/AIDS medicines, can raise your LDL level.
- Other medical conditions. Diseases such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS can cause a higher LDL level.
- Race. Certain races may have an increased risk of high blood cholesterol. For example, African Americans typically have higher HDL and LDL cholesterol levels than whites.
There are two main ways to lower your LDL cholesterol:
- Therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC). TLC includes three parts:
  Heart-healthy eating. A heart-healthy eating plan limits the amount of saturated and trans fats that you eat. Examples of eating plans that can lower your cholesterol include the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet and the DASH eating plan.
  Weight Management. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your LDL cholesterol.
  Physical Activity. Everyone should get regular physical activity (30 minutes on most, if not all, days).
- Drug Treatment. If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may also need to take medicines. There are several types of cholesterol-lowering drugs available, including statins. The medicines work in different ways and can have different side effects. Talk to your health care provider about which one is right for you. While you are taking medicines to lower your cholesterol, you still should continue with the lifestyle changes.
Some people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) may receive a treatment called lipoprotein apheresis. This treatment uses a filtering machine to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. Then the machine returns the rest of the blood back to the person.
1. https://medlineplus.gov/ldlthebadcholesterol.html [accessed on Mar 01, 2019]
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000386.htm [accessed on Mar 01, 2019]
3. https://labtestsonline.org/tests/ldl-cholesterol [accessed on Mar 01, 2019]
4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11920-cholesterol-numbers-what-do-they-mean [accessed on Mar 01, 2019]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (18)

Lipids and Lipoproteins

Lipids and Lipoproteins

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipid Absorption

Lipid Absorption

Image by OpenStax College

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, fatty substance that's found naturally in every cell in your body. It's categorized as a lipid-that is, a fat, oil, or wax that won't dissolve in water. Cholesterol is necessary for your body's health because it helps to make cell membranes, digest fats, and produce vitamin D and various steroid hormones. Your bloodstream transports cholesterol throughout your body bound to water-soluble particles called lipoproteins.

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipids & Fats

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipids & Fats

Lipids & Fats

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Dr. Tara Dall discusses LDL, LDL Cholesterol (LDL-C) & LDL Particles (LDL-P)

Video by AdvLip/YouTube

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Image by TheVisualMD

The New Marker for Heart Disease that is BETTER than LDL Cholesterol

Video by Dr. Adrian Chavez/YouTube

% Small Dense LDL Cholesterol

The predominance of small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is now recognized as a serious cardiovascular risk factor by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel. Research showed that the predominance of small, dense LDL is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Image by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Video by TheVisualMD

HDL and LDL Cholesterol Sub-fraction, Heart Disease

The standard lipid profile, which measures the quantity of LDL (\"bad\") and HDL (\"good\") cholesterol in the bloodstream, has proven itself to be useful in identifying many people who are at risk for heart disease. But it doesn't catch everyone at risk. A more detailed lipid profile, called lipoprotein sub-fraction testing, categorizes cholesterol particles according to their size and density. Such testing is more sensitive and is especially useful for people who have a strong family history of heart disease. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a condition when blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked. Heart cells die when the blood supply is cut off; the longer the blood supply is cut off, the greater the area of heart damage.

Image by TheVisualMD

Low Density Lipoprotein: Arterial Wall

It's estimated that there are nearly 100,000 miles of arteries in an adult body. The walls of these arteries are composed of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, elastica interna, and an endothelial cell layer.

Image by TheVisualMD

Low Density Lipoprotein: Clogged Arteries (Atherosclerosis) / Plaque in Coronary Artery, close up

Plaque in Coronary Artery / Leading to a Heart Attack

1) Plaque in Coronary Artery - In this image, a tiny coronary artery has been cross-sectioned to reveal a stenosis, or narrowing, caused by fatty deposits in the blood stream. Plaque in a coronary artery may break apart, and the resulting release of platelet adhesion-enhancing substances encourages clots to form on the plaque surface. The clot may then block the flow of blood through the already narrowed artery. Having this condition present in the coronary arteries is particularly dangerous because these are the arteries that wrap around the surface of the heart and supply the organ itself with oxygen and nutrients needed to pump blood to the entire body. 2) Leading to a Heart Attack - In this image, a tiny coronary artery has been cross-sectioned to reveal a stenosis, or narrowing, caused by fatty deposits in the blood stream. It is evident that this stenosis has advanced such that tissue necrosis, or death, has occurred in the area upstream from the blockage. Plaque in a coronary artery may break apart, and the resulting release of platelet adhesion-enhancing substances encourages clots to form on the plaque surface. The clot may then block the flow of blood through the already narrowed artery. Having this condition present in the coronary arteries is particularly dangerous because these are the arteries that wrap around the surface of the heart and supply the organ itself with oxygen and nutrients needed to pump blood to the entire body. This heart has been severely injured and the individual is at a high risk for heart attack.

Interactive by TheVisualMD

Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) Molecule

Lp-PLA2 (or lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2) is an enzyme produced by specialized immune cells called macrophages that engulf and destroy pathogens, foreign particles, aging cells and biological debris. Most of the Lp-PLA2 in the body is bound to LDL (or `bad` cholesterol) and the enzyme, like LDL, is linked to inflammation and the formation of plaques on blood vessel walls. Because Lp-PLA2 is very specifically linked to inflammation of blood vessels rather than inflammation that is systemic (throughout the body), it is a particularly good biomarker for vessel health.

Image by TheVisualMD

Oleic Acid Molecule

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated Omega-9 fatty acid found in animal and vegetable fats. Monounsaturated fats have one double bond between carbon atoms in the chain and polyunsaturated fats have more than one double bond. These fats lower the risk of heart disease by reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) in the blood. In this model, carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen atoms are white, and oxygen atoms are red. Interactive also available on white background.

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipoprotein(a) Molecule

The test for Lipoprotein(a) is used to help assess an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Unlike other risk factors for heart disease, however, Lp(a) levels are largely genetically determined and remain fairly stable over a person's life; they are also relatively resistant to treatment by either lifestyle changes or drugs. So why test for it? Because it is additional risk factor that can flag patients and their doctors to take an aggressive approach towards other, more treatable risk factors.

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipids and Lipoproteins

TheVisualMD

Lipid Absorption

OpenStax College

Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Lipids & Fats

TheVisualMD

Lipids & Fats

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

8:37

Dr. Tara Dall discusses LDL, LDL Cholesterol (LDL-C) & LDL Particles (LDL-P)

AdvLip/YouTube

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

5:19

The New Marker for Heart Disease that is BETTER than LDL Cholesterol

Dr. Adrian Chavez/YouTube

% Small Dense LDL Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

0:45

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

HDL and LDL Cholesterol Sub-fraction, Heart Disease

TheVisualMD

Low Density Lipoprotein: Arterial Wall

TheVisualMD

Plaque in Coronary Artery / Leading to a Heart Attack

TheVisualMD

Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) Molecule

TheVisualMD

Oleic Acid Molecule

TheVisualMD

Lipoprotein(a) Molecule

TheVisualMD

VLDL Cholesterol Test

VLDL Cholesterol Test

Also called: VLDL-C, VLDL, Very Low Density Lipoprotein

VLDL stands for very low-density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are particles that carry fat in the bloodstream. Like LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol is considered a type of "bad" cholesterol. Testing for VLDL cholesterol can be used to assess a person's cardiovascular risk.

VLDL Cholesterol Test

Also called: VLDL-C, VLDL, Very Low Density Lipoprotein

VLDL stands for very low-density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are particles that carry fat in the bloodstream. Like LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol is considered a type of "bad" cholesterol. Testing for VLDL cholesterol can be used to assess a person's cardiovascular risk.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
30
Your result is Normal.
Normal results may vary based on the laboratory and the method used.
Related conditions
Lipoproteins are the particles that transport fat and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream.VLDL-cholesterol is produced in the liver, and from there it gets released into the blood to provide the body tissues with triglycerides.
Since about half of VLDL particles consist of triglycerides, this kind of structure makes VLDL particles very easy to anchor to the walls of arteries and eventually block the blood flow. These blockages may lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Therefore, VLDL-cholesterol is considered to be “bad” cholesterol.
The VLDL-cholesterol (very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) test is part of a lipid (fats) profile to assess a person's risk for heart disease.
The values of VLDL cholesterol are usually estimated based on the triglyceride values. The calculation to estimate the values are as follows:
- Divide the triglyceride value by 5 in case the result is given in mg/dL
- Divide the triglyceride value by 2.2 in case the result is given in mmol/L.
1. VLDL Cholesterol. MedlinePlus. [accessed on Oct 31, 2018]
2. VLDL Cholesterol - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Oct 31, 2018]
3. VLDL Cholesterol. Lab Tests Online. [accessed on Oct 31, 2018]
4. VLDL cholesterol: Is it harmful? Mayo Clinic. [accessed on Oct 31, 2018]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (17)

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Image by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Cholesterol & Atherosclerosis

While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system (as used in MeSH), it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease). Everyone talks about high cholesterol and how bad it is for you. But why is it bad for you? Where does it come from? What's the difference between "good" and "bad" cholesterol? Take a journey inside the body and explore its vessels, as world-renowned doctors explain what cholesterol is all about and how it contributes to hardening of the arteries, a dangerous condition also known as atherosclerosis.

Video by TheVisualMD

Lipoprotein in the Blood Stream

Lipoprotein in the Blood Stream

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipids

Cross section of the different structures that phospholipids can take in a aqueous solution. The circles are the hydrophilic heads and the wavy lines are the fatty acyl side chains.

Image by Mariana Ruiz Villarreal , LadyofHats

Lipids and Lipoproteins

Lipids and Lipoproteins

Image by TheVisualMD

Chylomicron structure - ApoA, ApoB, ApoC, ApoE (apolipoproteins); T (triacylglycerol); C (cholesterol); green (phospholipids)

Chylomicron structure - ApoA, ApoB, ApoC, ApoE (apolipoproteins); T (triacylglycerol); C (cholesterol); green (phospholipids)

Image by Xvazquez

Total Cholesterol Rotation (HDL, LDL, and VLDL Molecules)

A test for total cholesterol is an overall measure of “good” as well as “bad” cholesterol. A lipoprotein (from the Greek lipos, for fat) is a fat-and-protein package that enables fats and cholesterol to move freely within the bloodstream (fats and blood, like oil and water, do not mix). Proteins and other components make up the outer shell of the lipoprotein; cholesterol and other fats are packed together inside. The size and density of the lipoprotein determines whether its cholesterol is classified as “good” or “bad.” This interactive features 3 lipoproteins: very high density lipoprotein (VLDL) which is the largest molecule, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) which is the medium-sized molecule, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which are the smallest and most dense.

Image by TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

Controlling Cholesterol with Medicine

Image by TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

Controlling Cholesterol with Medicine

Image by TheVisualMD

Lipid Absorption

Lipid Absorption

Image by OpenStax College

Lipids

The membrane that surrounds a cell is made up of proteins and lipids. Depending on the membrane's location and role in the body, lipids can make up anywhere from 20 to 80 percent of the membrane, with the remainder being proteins. Cholesterol (green), which is not found in plant cells, is a type of lipid that helps stiffen the membrane.

Image by Judith Stoffer - NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Cholesterol pathway

Cholesterol pathway

Image by TheVisualMD

Liver and Lipoproteins

Liver and Lipoproteins

Image by TheVisualMD

Liver and Lipoproteins

Liver and Lipoproteins

Image by TheVisualMD

VLDL

VLDL 1

Image by Servier Medical Art

Dimensions of lipoproteins

Dimensions of lipoproteins

Image by Peter Forster

Lipid Metabolism

Lipid logistics: transport of triglycerides and cholesterol in organisms in form of lipoproteins as chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, IDL, HDL.

Image by Peter Forster

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

3:08

Cholesterol & Atherosclerosis

TheVisualMD

Lipoprotein in the Blood Stream

TheVisualMD

Lipids

Mariana Ruiz Villarreal , LadyofHats

Lipids and Lipoproteins

TheVisualMD

Chylomicron structure - ApoA, ApoB, ApoC, ApoE (apolipoproteins); T (triacylglycerol); C (cholesterol); green (phospholipids)

Xvazquez

Total Cholesterol Rotation (HDL, LDL, and VLDL Molecules)

TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Lipid Absorption

OpenStax College

Lipids

Judith Stoffer - NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Cholesterol pathway

TheVisualMD

Liver and Lipoproteins

TheVisualMD

Liver and Lipoproteins

TheVisualMD

VLDL

Servier Medical Art

Dimensions of lipoproteins

Peter Forster

Lipid Metabolism

Peter Forster

Non-HDL Cholesterol Test

Non-HDL Cholesterol Test

Also called: Non-HDL-C, Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Under certain conditions, the risk of developing coronary heart disease (strokes, heart attack) cannot be properly assessed only by looking at the lipids test results. In these cases, the non-HDL cholesterol can be used to assess of how high a person's cardiovascular risk is.

Non-HDL Cholesterol Test

Also called: Non-HDL-C, Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Under certain conditions, the risk of developing coronary heart disease (strokes, heart attack) cannot be properly assessed only by looking at the lipids test results. In these cases, the non-HDL cholesterol can be used to assess of how high a person's cardiovascular risk is.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
mg/dL
130
159
189
219
Your result is Desirable.
You have optimal levels of non-HDL cholesterol; therefore, your cardiovascular risk is considered to be low.
Related conditions
Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides are usually part of a lipid profile test, which is used to monitor and screen for unhealthy levels of fats in the blood.
If you have borderline results or imbalanced lipid levels, your doctor may want to know what your non-HDL cholesterol is, since it can provide more information about your overall CHD risk.
Every person with no risk factors for heart disease should get tested at least every five years as part of a routine check-up. When one or more risk factors for heart disease are associated, the test should be done more frequently.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
- Unbalanced diet
- Physical inactivity (sedentarism)
- Being overweight or obese
- More than 50 years of age in women
- More than 45 years of age in men
- Cigarette smoking
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Family history of early heart disease
- Previously diagnosed heart disease
1. Doc's Opinion: Non-HDL Cholesterol (Non-HDL-C) [accessed on Oct 03, 2018]
2. URMC / Encyclopedia / Lipid Panel with Non-HDL Cholesterol [accessed on Oct 03, 2018]
3. LPNF1 - Clinical: Lipid Panel, Non-Fasting, Serum [accessed on Oct 03, 2018]
4. Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol | Lab Tests Online [accessed on Oct 03, 2018]
5. 344265: Non-HDL Cholesterol Profile | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 03, 2018]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (30)

Cholesterol Numbers - Mayo Clinic

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

What is Cholesterol?

Video by American Heart Association/YouTube

How to Read and Understand Your Cholesterol Levels – Dr.Berg

Video by Dr. Eric Berg DC/YouTube

What Does My Non HDL Score Mean

Video by PreDiabetes Centers/YouTube

Recommended Cholesterol Levels

Video by AllHealthGo/YouTube

Supersize sperm from the past

Video by nature video/YouTube

A Return to Specific LDL-Cholesterol Goals

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

At a Glance: What You Need To Know About High Blood Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol, the greater your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the United States. Each year, more than a million Americans have a heart attack, and about half a million people die of heart disease.

Document by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Your Guide to A Healthy Heart

Document by www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Nutrition Facts Label: Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a nutrient to get less of.

Document by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

High Blood Cholesterol: What you need to know

Your blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease.

Document by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

On the Move to Better Heart Health for African Americans

Learn how to reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke by reducing your sodium intake. Includes healthy food choices, cooking ideas, information on shopping and reading food labels.

Document by www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Cholesterol Conversation Starters

Cholesterol can be a confusing health topic for a lot of people, but understanding and managing high blood cholesterol is an important step in taking control of heart health.

Document by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Depression--Medicines To Help You

Do you feel depressed? Do not feel ashamed. Women are more likely than men to feel depressed. About 1 woman in 5 has depression in the U.S.

Document by FDA

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol, Heart and Liver

Cholesterol is essential for the maintenance of cell membranes, production of sex hormones, and absorption of key vitamins. We get cholesterol from the foods we eat, but our livers produce most of it. There are two main types of cholesterol particles found in the bloodstream: HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or \"good\" cholesterol); and LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or \"bad\" cholesterol). LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol because it leads to the formation of plaque deposits that can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.

Image by TheVisualMD

Bile Acid Sequestrant

Bile-acid sequestrants, also known as bile-acid resins, bind in the intestines with bile acids, which are produced by converting cholesterol. Bile acids are then eliminated in the stool, stimulating the liver to convert more cholesterol into bile acids, thereby lowering LDL-cholesterol levels. This is one mechanism of action that can be effective in lowering one's cholesterol and reducing one's risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Sources with Anatomy

Cholesterol is made by your own body. It is also found in food products derived from animals. Cholesterol is used to make bile acids in the liver, necessary for fat digestion. Cholesterol is constantly transported in the bloodstream between the liver and all the body's tissues. HDL-cholesterol helps clear excess cholesterol from your body. LDL-cholesterol is ingested by cells in need of cholesterol. LDL particles of the Pattern A type are larger and less dense and may be harmless. LDL particles of the Pattern B type, however, are smaller and more dense and can penetrate through the lining of an artery and into its interior. Oxidized LDL particles (oxLDL) can cause major damage.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol and Statins Infographic

Cholesterol and Statins Infographic

Image by FDA

Vessel Plaque Caused by Cholesterol

HDL, high density lipoprotein, is known as the body's \"good cholesterol\". It is a protein secreted by the liver that travels through the blood stream, picking up up excess cholesterol in the blood and transporting it to the liver for elimination from the body. It is favorable to have a high HDL count, as these are the molecules responsible for eliminating cholesterol from the blood, thereby preventing the fat from building up and causing complications such as atherosclerosis. LDL on the other hand, is the protein that transport cholesterol TO cells. Having a high LDL signifies that too much cholesterol is being delivered to cells, and the HDL may not be able to keep up with it. In this image, a flap of an artery in the body is cut open to reveal fatty deposits of cholesterol in the artery wall.

Image by TheVisualMD

Statin's effect on Cholesterol

Statin's effect on Cholesterol

Image by TheVisualMD

Fibrate Molecule

Fibrates lower triglyceride and modestly increase HDL levels by reducing the liver's VLDL production. VLDL is a type of \"bad cholesterol\", and stands for \"very low-density lipoprotein\". These molecules transport cholesterol to body cells and are what become dangerous to the body in excess. Fibrate plays a role in production of LDL that has a higher than usual affinity for LDL-receptors, gateways into cells from the blood stream. This means that LDL's are removed from the blood stream more frequently, thereby decreasing the risk of cholesterol buildup in the walls of arteries.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Molecule

Cholesterol is a fatlike substance produced naturally by your body and is necessary for its health. Cholesterol is transported in your bloodstream throughout your system, bound to water-soluble particles called lipoproteins. LDL (low-density lipoproteins) transport cholesterol from the liver to body cells, while HDL (high-density lipoproteins) transport cholesterol from cells back to the liver. Cholesterol is used by cells to contribute to the structure of plasma membranes and is a precursor to many steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D. It is important to have healthy levels of cholesterol, however, as the blood vessels through which the molecule travels around the body are suseptible to buildup of fat. This can lead to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol in the Bloodstream

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is transported through the bloodstream throughout the entire circulatory system. It is bound to water-soluble particles called liproproteins. Plaque buildup is characteristic of atherosclerosis, and can happen as a result of fatty materials such as cholesterol in the blood. As the cholesterol travels through the blood stream, it sticks to the artery walls and accumulates over time. It becomes hard and calcified, leading to detrimental results. Cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries around the body, often blocking blood supply to the vital areas. Seen in this image is a cut-away into an artery in the body where the hardened, fatty material has accumulated in the lumen, or opening. This plaque impedes on the necessary tube structure of the artery, preventing blood from flowing through. As a result, one can experience poor circulation or tissue death in the part of the body where that artery's destination lies.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol, triglycerides, or other lipids through the bloodstream. Lipoproteins are protein spheres that consist of a core of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, surrounded by a shell made up of water-soluble phospholipids with embedded proteins and cholesterol. The lipid-laden core of the lipoprotein is insoluble in aqueous (water-based) blood, so the phospholipid-protein shell is necessary to allow the lipoprotein to float freely in the bloodstream.

Image by TheVisualMD

Cholesterol is Everywhere

The human body contains about 100-150 g of cholesterol, most of it incorporated into cell membranes. One of the other major uses of cholesterol is the production of bile acids (also known as bile salts) in the liver. Bile contains a number of ingredients, including water, cholesterol, and bile acids. Bile is necessary for the absorption of fats from fecal matter passing through the intestine.

Image by TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

Doctors generally recommend lifestyle changes as the first line of defense against cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis. In addition, one or more of the following drugs may be prescribed:

Image by TheVisualMD

2:16

Cholesterol Numbers - Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

2:54

What is Cholesterol?

American Heart Association/YouTube

8:15

How to Read and Understand Your Cholesterol Levels – Dr.Berg

Dr. Eric Berg DC/YouTube

0:51

What Does My Non HDL Score Mean

PreDiabetes Centers/YouTube

2:12

Recommended Cholesterol Levels

AllHealthGo/YouTube

1:58

Supersize sperm from the past

nature video/YouTube

10:36

A Return to Specific LDL-Cholesterol Goals

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

At a Glance: What You Need To Know About High Blood Cholesterol

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Your Guide to A Healthy Heart

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Nutrition Facts Label: Cholesterol

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

High Blood Cholesterol: What you need to know

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

On the Move to Better Heart Health for African Americans

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Cholesterol Conversation Starters

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Depression--Medicines To Help You

FDA

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol, Heart and Liver

TheVisualMD

Bile Acid Sequestrant

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Sources with Anatomy

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol and Statins Infographic

FDA

Vessel Plaque Caused by Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Statin's effect on Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Fibrate Molecule

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol Molecule

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol in the Bloodstream

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Anatomy of a Lipoprotein

TheVisualMD

Cholesterol is Everywhere

TheVisualMD

Controlling Cholesterol

TheVisualMD

Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Also called: TC/HDL ratio, Cholesterol ratio

The total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio is a number that is helpful in predicting atherosclerosis, the process of fatty buildup in the walls of the arteries. The number is obtained by dividing total cholesterol by HDL (good) cholesterol.

Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Also called: TC/HDL ratio, Cholesterol ratio

The total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio is a number that is helpful in predicting atherosclerosis, the process of fatty buildup in the walls of the arteries. The number is obtained by dividing total cholesterol by HDL (good) cholesterol.

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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
{ratio}
3.5
5
Your result is Normal.
The optimum ratio is 3.5.
Related conditions
Total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides are usually part of a lipid profile test, which is used to monitor and screen for unhealthy levels of fats in the blood.
If you have borderline results or very imbalance lipid levels, your doctor may want to know what your total cholesterol to HDL ratio is, since it can provide more information about your overall CHD risk.
Every person with no risk factors for heart disease should get tested at least every five years as part of a routine check-up. When one or more risk factors for heart disease are associated, the test should be done more frequently.
Cardiovascular disease risk factors include:
- Unbalanced diet
- Being overweight or obese
- Physical inactivity (sedentarism)
- More than 50 years of age in women
- More than 45 years of age in men
- Cigarette smoking
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Family history of early heart disease
- Already diagnosed heart disease
Total cholesterol ranges in adults are:
- Normal: less than 200 mg/dL.
- Borderline high: from 200 to 239 mg/dL.
- High: equal or greater than 240 mg/dL.
HDL levels in adults are:
- Low: less than 40 mg/dL in men, and less than 50 mg/dL in women.
- Acceptable: from 40 to 50 mg/dL in men, and from 50 to 59 mg/dL in women.
- Optimal: equal or greater than 60 mg/dL.
An acceptable cholesterol ratio in adults is considered to be below 5 to 1 (5:1). While an optimal ratio is below 3.5 to 1 (3.5:1). The higher the ratio, the higher is the risk of developing CHD.
For example, if a person has a total cholesterol level of 230 mg/dL and an HDL level of 40 mg/dL (total cholesterol to HDL ratio: 230/40), the resulting ratio would be of 5.7 (or 5.7:1). This person does not have an acceptable ratio and therefore has an increased risk of developing CHD.
1. Lipid Panel with Total Cholesterol: HDL Ratio - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Oct 08, 2018]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (9)

This browser does not support the video element.

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

This video explains the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol. It also reveals what may occur when there are high levels of LDL in the body.LDL may stick to an artery's inner wall causing the build up of plaque, affecting blood flow. When an artery stiffens and constricts, aneurysm, heart attack, and stroke can occur.

Video by TheVisualMD

Triglycerides and HDL

Video by Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube

The 5 Most Important Molecules in Your Body

Video by SciShow/YouTube

British Heart Foundation - Cholesterol and heart disease

Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube

HDL: When Good Cholesterol Goes Bad

Video by UW Video/YouTube

Tri HDL

Video by ACAP Health/YouTube

High Density Lipoprotein: Cholesterol pathway

We get cholesterol from foods like red meat, dairy and eggs, but our livers produce most of our cholesterol in a multi-step process (drugs like statins interrupt this process). Cholesterol is carried in the bloodstream in specialized packages called lipoproteins.

Image by TheVisualMD

High Density Lipoprotein: Arterial Wall

It's estimated that there are nearly 100,000 miles of arteries in an adult body. The walls of these arteries are composed of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, elastica interna, and an endothelial cell layer.

Image by TheVisualMD

High Density Lipoprotein: Aerobic exercise

There are many factors that can potentially influence cholesterol levels. Exercise is an important one. Studies have shown that endurance athletes have higher HDL levels, and aerobic athletes in general, particularly lean ones, have lower LDL levels.

Image by TheVisualMD

0:45

What Is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

TheVisualMD

3:25

Triglycerides and HDL

Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube

7:55

The 5 Most Important Molecules in Your Body

SciShow/YouTube

6:23

British Heart Foundation - Cholesterol and heart disease

British Heart Foundation/YouTube

54:59

HDL: When Good Cholesterol Goes Bad

UW Video/YouTube

2:17

Tri HDL

ACAP Health/YouTube

High Density Lipoprotein: Cholesterol pathway

TheVisualMD

High Density Lipoprotein: Arterial Wall

TheVisualMD

High Density Lipoprotein: Aerobic exercise

TheVisualMD

Get Quality Sleep and Reduce Stress

This browser does not support the video element.

Managing Stress

Video by TheVisualMD

Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Get Quality Sleep and Reduce Stress

Stress can contribute to high blood pressure and other heart risks. Not getting enough sleep or regularly getting poor quality sleep increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.

You don’t have to work on improving your sleep and reducing stress alone. Here’s some ideas to keep you motivated with the help of others:

Practicing meditation, being more physically active, doing relaxation therapy, and talking with someone you trust can help you cope with stress and sleep better.
Find a friend or family member who shares your goals. Together, take steps to lower your stress and follow healthy sleep practices, like having a regular bedtime and not eating late at night.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Additional Materials (9)

This browser does not support the video element.

Stress Takes a Toll

The way we are programmed to react to stress is no match for the modern world. So many things trigger our stress response! When the stress response is rare, damage is minimal. When our bodies are flooded with stress hormones repeatedly, damage is unavoidable. Because stress increases our blood pressure and heart rate, cardiovascular strain results. Stress also slows down digestion, causing ailments including ulcers. Repeated suppression of the immune system, reproductive system and parts of the brain that deal with short-term memory also cause problems in those functions.

Video by TheVisualMD

Managing Stress - Brainsmart - BBC

Video by BBC/YouTube

Small Steps for the Heart, #FromTheHeart: De-stress with Deep Breaths

Video by NHLBI/YouTube

Stress and Heart Disease

Video by Cleveland Clinic/YouTube

Stress & the Heart – What You Need to Know - Mayo Clinic

Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube

Managing Stress

Video by American Heart Association/YouTube

The Impact Of Stress On Your Heart

Video by LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube

This browser does not support the video element.

Make Sleep a Priority

Get a good night's sleep to improve your memory, metabolism and overall health.

Video by TheVisualMD

This browser does not support the video element.

Sleep and Your Weight

How can interrupted sleep affect weight management? Scientists have found that two important appetite-control hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are regulated during our sleep cycles. The hormone ghrelin, produced in the stomach, tells our brain we are hungry. The hormone leptin, manufactured in our fat cells, tells our brain when we've had enough to eat. When sleep is restricted, the hormone ghrelin increases telling us we're still hungry even if we've had enough to eat. The hormone leptin decreases, so it takes longer to get the message when we're full. This imbalance can result in overeating and weight gain.

Video by TheVisualMD

1:23

Stress Takes a Toll

TheVisualMD

2:24

Managing Stress - Brainsmart - BBC

BBC/YouTube

0:37

Small Steps for the Heart, #FromTheHeart: De-stress with Deep Breaths

NHLBI/YouTube

1:05

Stress and Heart Disease

Cleveland Clinic/YouTube

7:53

Stress & the Heart – What You Need to Know - Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic/YouTube

3:00

Managing Stress

American Heart Association/YouTube

2:05

The Impact Of Stress On Your Heart

LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube

1:45

Make Sleep a Priority

TheVisualMD

1:02

Sleep and Your Weight

TheVisualMD

Stop Smoking

Quit Smoking

Image by TheVisualMD

Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Quit Smoking

The chemicals in tobacco smoke harm your heart and blood vessels in many ways. Talk to your doctor if you vape. There is scientific evidence that flavorings found in vaping products can damage your heart and lungs.

Quitting is hard, but many people have succeeded, and you can too.

Ask your family and friends for support in your effort.

Set a quit date and let those close to you know about it.
To keep your hands busy and be with others when you get urges to smoke, consider joining a group that focuses on sewing, knitting, woodworking, or other such activities.
If you have trouble quitting smoking on your own, consider joining a support group. Many hospitals, workplaces, and community groups offer classes to help people quit smoking.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Additional Materials (7)

0:43

Quit Smoking to Keep your Heart Healthy

NHLBI/YouTube

2:06

How smoking affects your heart

British Heart Foundation/YouTube

5:36

Smoking and Your Heart

HHQualityImprovement/YouTube

12:48

What is the Single Best Thing You Can Do to Quit Smoking?

DocMikeEvans/YouTube

1:34

How Smoking Raises Heart Disease Risk | Heart Disease

Howcast/YouTube

3:29

What Happens When You Stop Smoking?

AsapSCIENCE/YouTube

2:46

Smoking and its effects on Health - Stop today!

iheed/YouTube

Maintain a Healthy Weight

This browser does not support the video element.

How Does Obesity Affect Hypertension?

Video by TheVisualMD

Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight is hard on your heart. It increases your risk of having heart disease, a stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Choosing heart-healthy foods and getting regular exercise will help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Also, find ways to reduce stress, which affects energy and hunger and, if chronic, can make your body store more fat.

If your doctor diagnosed you with overweight or obesity, it’s important to follow their recommendations for losing weight. Health professionals recommend losing 5% to 10% of your initial weight over the course of about 6 months. But a loss of just 3% to 5% of your current weight can lower triglycerides and glucose levels in your blood, as well as your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Losing more than 3% to 5% of your weight can improve blood pressure readings, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.

If you need to lose weight, connecting with others can help keep you on track. Try these:

Join a weight loss program with a buddy.
Sign “social support” agreements with three family members or friends.
Get your kids involved. Explain that it's important to sit less and move more to stay at a healthy weight and that they’ll have more energy to ride a bike or shoot hoops. Tell them you’ll do the same.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Additional Materials (1)

1:14

Obesity: The little things

NHLBI/YouTube

Helping a Loved One

Doctor meeting patient

Image by Sozavisimost/Pixabay

Heart Health: Conversation Starters

It can be hard to talk to a family member or friend about making heart-healthy changes, but it’s important. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.

The good news is there’s a lot people can do to lower their risk of heart disease. Use these tips to start a conversation about heart-healthy changes like quitting smoking or getting more physical activity.

Start by saying that you care.

You can say:

“I want you to live a long and healthy life.”
“I want to help you make healthy changes so you can keep enjoying the things you love to do.”
“I want to help you get healthy because I care about you.”

Explain that it's possible to prevent heart disease.

Encourage your loved one to take steps that can improve heart health. For example, you can say:

"Eating healthy is important for heart health. You need a mix of healthy foods — like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, fat-free or low-fat dairy, and vegetable oils. Why don't we go shopping and cook a healthy meal together?"
"Getting active is good for your heart. Let's go for a walk after dinner!"
"Quitting smoking can lower your risk of heart disease. You can get free help by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)."

Offer to help.

Ask how you can help:

“What changes are the hardest for you to make? What can I do to support you?”
“How can we get healthy together?”
“You don't have to do this alone. How can I help?”

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Additional Materials (8)

Supporting Your Loved One with High Blood Pressure

Document by Million Hearts®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This browser does not support the video element.

I Need a Miracle

This is the story of John Barlow's physical transformation through Canyon Ranch's fitness program. At the start, a series of medical exams and scans is conducted to reveal many health problems and conditions that John is facing. A cardiologist explains that arterial plaque blocks the blood flow in his John's heart, giving him the potential of having a heart disease. Dr. Mark Liponis of the Canyon Ranch Health Resort serves as the principle architect in charge of guiding John back to a state of healthy well-being. Further exams - taking blood pressure, blood tests, examining the ear, eye, and oral cavity, EKG, and stress test reveal blockages in John's coronary arteries (network of arteries that supply blood to the heart). As the video shows the internal organs of his body, John is telling the problems about his health. Not only that some of the arteries in his heart are narrowed, but John's insulin resistance is low, he is overweight, he has constant back pain, and he is allergic to a lot of food. Because of these findings, big changes should be done in 4 months. John faces the challenges like working out, changing his diet, having acupuncture treatment and others. After 2 months, John is put to the next level of the fitness program. Can be seen that John is continuously trying to improve his health until the fourth month. In his final stress test, the result tells that a lot of changes happen. As the video shows scans and slices of John's body, John is telling that the restriction in his heart's blood flow is gone, his cholesterol went down, his insulin resistance improved, and his body fat dropped. Dr. Mark Liponis is explaining that 4 months ago, John is 56 yrs. old but has a body of 80 yrs old. After the fitness program, at the age of 56, John has a body of a 52 yr old. Through an intensive four month period of physical activity, healthy eating, and wellness training, John is able to completely transform his body.

Video by TheVisualMD

Part 3: Empowering Loved Ones About Their Future Heart Disease Risk

Video by Sentara Healthcare/YouTube

Concerned about a loved one's health? Offer them a heart scan gift card for the holidays

Video by WRTV Indianapolis/YouTube

Why Women Need To Talk Heart Health With Doctors

Video by WCCO - CBS Minnesota/YouTube

Family History and Heart Disease

Video by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/YouTube

Importance of Family History Medical Minute with Dr. Richard Honaker

Video by Best Docs Network/YouTube

Cardiac rehabilitation and physical activity

One of the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation is building healthier habits, such as finding a physical activity that you enjoy, to help you stay heart-healthy for life.

Image by CDC

Supporting Your Loved One with High Blood Pressure

Million Hearts®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

0:00

I Need a Miracle

TheVisualMD

2:14

Part 3: Empowering Loved Ones About Their Future Heart Disease Risk

Sentara Healthcare/YouTube

2:07

Concerned about a loved one's health? Offer them a heart scan gift card for the holidays

WRTV Indianapolis/YouTube

1:51

Why Women Need To Talk Heart Health With Doctors

WCCO - CBS Minnesota/YouTube

1:06

Family History and Heart Disease

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/YouTube

1:20

Importance of Family History Medical Minute with Dr. Richard Honaker

Best Docs Network/YouTube

Cardiac rehabilitation and physical activity

CDC

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