Understanding Lipids
Understanding Lipids

Are Lipids Good or Bad?

Good_cholesterol
Good cholesterol: HDL-C

HDL absorbs the cholesterol in the blood and carries the cholesterol back to the liver, where the cholesterol can be flushed out of the body.1,2

Bad_cholesterol
Bad cholesterol: Non-HDL-C
(LDL-C)

LDL-C makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. LDL carries the cholesterol to your arteries, where it can accumulate in the arterial wall, causing a fatty buildup in the arteries. This narrows the arteries and increases the risk of blood clots in the body.1-3

Triglycerides
Triglycerides (TG)

Triglycerides are a common type of fat in the body and store excess energy from your diet.1,2,4

Ideal Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels

For adults (All cholesterol and triglyceride levels are presented in mmol/L):5

Total-C HDL-C LDL-C Triglycerides
Green Acceptable <5.2 ≥1.6 <2.6 or <1.8* <1.7
Yellow Borderline 5.2-6.2 N/A 3.4-4.1 1.7-2.2
Orange High ≥6.2 N/A ≥4.1 ≥2.3
Red Low N/A <1.0 for men;
<1.3 for women		 N/A N/A

*For high-risk patients

How To Test Cholesterol

It is important to have your blood cholesterol levels checked by your doctor with a blood test.6 Whether fasting, which is not eating or drinking beverages for 9 – 12 hours before the test is needed will be determined by the doctor.6

Adults

Adults aged 20–39 should have their blood cholesterol levels tested every 4 to 6 years, while adults aged 40 or above should have an evaluation of cardiovascular risk to determine the frequency of cholesterol test.6

Children

Children and adolescents should also have cholesterol tests at least once during age 9 – 11 and again during age 17 – 21.9 However, those with family history, obesity and other metabolic risk factors should check their blood cholesterol levels more frequently.7

The Cholesterol Myth

Myth 1.There is no need to check blood cholesterol levels until you reach middle age7

It is recommended to test for cholesterol levels at least once between aged 9 and 11, once between aged 17 and 21, and every 4 to 6 years from age 20 onwards.

Myth 2.Exercise and diet may assist in stabilizing blood lipids/cholesterol, medication is not needed7,8

Although obesity, exercise, and diet are factors that affect cholesterol levels, but they are not the only factors. Genetic factors and other comorbidities also influence cholesterol levels, in these cases patients may need medications to help.

Myth 3.Cholesterol-rich foods are unhealthy8,9

Many assume that foods with high cholesterol content are unhealthy, while having cholesterol-free foods means a healthy diet. However, some cholesterol-rich foods are also rich in other nutrition that are essential for our health. For example, egg yolks, although high in cholesterol, are also rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, choline and selenium. Full fat dairy products, also high in cholesterol content, can provide us with protein and calcium, and may even improve blood sugar and insulin levels.

Healthy Living Habits

The key to heart and brain health10,11

Monitor ABC
Monitor ABC

(A1c, Blood pressure, Cholesterol)

Smoking
Smoking cessation
Medicines
Take medicines prescribed by your doctors on time
Regular_exercise
Regular exercise

recommended to peform moderate-intensity exercises of at least 30 minutes for 5 days per week

3-lows-1-high
3-lows-1-high

Low-sodium, low-sugar, low-fat, and high-fiber diets

Visits-timely
Attend follow-up visits timely

References

  1. Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, et al. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(1):111-188.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://shorturl.at/fNcbY. Accessed Sep 2024.
  3. McDermott, A. Healthline. Available at: https://shorturl.at/Idzsl. Accessed Sep 2024.
  4. American Heart Association. Available at: https://shorturl.at/64W61. Accessed Sep 2024.
  5. Goldman R and Clark C. Healthline. Available at: https://shorturl.at/NFrfr. Assessed Sep 2024.
  6. American Heart Association. Available at: https://shorturl.at/144ri. Accessed Sep 2024.
  7. American Heart Association. Available at: https://shorturl.at/J8SzF. Accessed Sep 2024.
  8. Kubala, J. Healthline. Available at: https://shorturl.at/0P6tm. Accessed Sep 2024.
  9. American Heart Association. Available at: https://shorturl.at/t77Ns. Accessed Sep 2024.
  10. Smart Patient Website. Available at: https://shorturl.at/Jv4C0. Accessed Sep 2024.
  11. Smart Patient Website. Available at: https://shorturl.at/0e6tp. Accessed Sep 2024.

PM-CVS-24-100404 Sep 2024