High LDL (bad) Cholesterol Facts:
Female heart patients don't received the proper cholesterol treatments. A study showed only 1 woman in 10 received treatment to reduce bad cholesterol blood levels. What's worse, current cholesterol guidelines aren't sufficiently tailored to women.

The American Heart Association (AHA) states high LDL cholesterol levels are known to be high risk factors in cardiovascular disease and heart disease. High LDL cholesterol significantly increases the risk of a heart attack.

Is it good or bad?:
In the simplest of terms, HDL is the good cholesterol. It picks up the LDL (the bad cholesterol) in the blood and carries it to the liver. In the liver LDL is discarded with the rest of the waste. We agree with many experts (AHA included) who state cholesterol level management should concentrate first on increasing HDL levels, and next lowering LDL cholesterol.

Age:
Children with high bad cholesterol levels are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. Surprisingly, many children have high bad cholesterol levels because of their diet. Boys and girls (under 20) with high bad cholesterol levels, have more difficulties later in life fighting heart disease.

Half of all heart attacks occur in people less than 65 years old. Unfortunately some of them are children and teenagers.

A woman's cholesterol level:
All the data in this section is based on comparing men and women with equally severe heart disease conditions.

A full lipid profile includes a check for triglycerides (another blood fat). Safe blood fat levels for men and women are now different. In a 1996 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, only 1 in 10 female heart patients received proper cholesterol treatments to reduce bad cholesterol blood levels.

Current cholesterol guidelines aren't sufficiently tailored to women. New studies show a woman's HDL cholesterol level is the best risk indicator of heart disease, and heart attack. The new studies indicate a women's total cholesterol level < 200, is not a risk factor in women's heart attacks or heart disease.

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has set the lower cut-off point for men and women at a 35 HDL level. A John Hopkins study indicates this is dangerously low for women. The study states at 35 HDL level, women have a 300% greater chance of heart attacks then women with a 45 to 50 HDL cholesterol level.

It is the Women's Cardiovascular Institute of Southern California that defines the minimum cut-off point for women is a 45 to 50 HDL level. They found a > 60 HDL level in women is an optimal level. A > 60 HDL level prevents heart attacks in women.

Normal cholesterol levels:
What's normal? It's a difficult question to answer, because it depends on who you believe. We believe the tables below contain the best available data the industry has.

For women, optimal cholesterol levels are:

For Women Only -- Full Lipid Profile Total cholesterol level (HDL + LDL) Total cholesterol isn't a risk factor in women's heart disease Triglyceride count < 200 It's another type of blood fat. LDL cholesterol < 130 AHA states LDL < 130 safe HDL cholesterol = > 60 The best of the best, 60 HDL found to prevent heart disease HDL cholesterol 45.to.50 New study confirms 45 - 50 the normal female HDL level. HDL cholesterol > 35 Current standards are wrong for women! HDL 35 increases heart attack risks by 300% LDL to HDL Ratio New study doesn't make a good ratio reference for women

sources: 1) American Medical Women Association,
2) Women's Cardiovascular Institute, California,
3) Director of Partnership for Women's Health
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, NYC
4) Author of the book: The Female Heart

For men, optimal cholesterol levels are:

For Men Only -- Full Lipid Profile Total cholesterol level (HDL + LDL) < 200 Total cholesterol level > 240 requires medication and drug treatments Triglyceride count < 200 It's another type of blood fat. LDL cholesterol < 130 AHA states LDL < 130 safe HDL cholesterol _>_35 AHA states HDL > 35 safe LDL to HDL Ratio 3.5 : 1 AHA states LDL to HDL ratio is good if it's 3.5 to 1

sources: 1) American Heart Association (AHA)
2) National Cholesterol Education Program

. . . lowering cholesterol part 3 on the next page