When people think of their cholesterol levels, they’re usually worried about their heart health. But high cholesterol is bad for your brain too. There’s a well- established connection between high levels of cholesterol and the increased risk of stroke. New research suggests that high cholesterol is linked to Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. To keep your cholesterol on track, ask your doctor for a total lipoprotein profile so that you can be aware of not only your total cholesterol but also each component of your cholesterol. You may have a total cholesterol level that is desirable, but that doesn’t mean your HDL (good) cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels are in line. Your total cholesterol level will fall into one of three categories:
- Desirable: less than 200 mg/dL
- Borderline high risk: 200–239 mg/dL
- High risk: 240 mg/dL and over
If you have high cholesterol or other risk factors, your doctor will probably prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication in combination with a healthy low-fat diet and exercise.
Having good levels of HDL is one of the most important factors in preventing ischemic strokes. These strokes occur when blood is blocked from flowing to the brain. Also, the less LDL you have, and the more HDL you have, the lower your risk for heart disease.
For HDL:
- Good: over 60 mg/dL
- Bad: less than 40 mg/dL
For LDL:
- Optimal: less than 100 mg/dL
- Near optimal: 100–129 mg/dL
- Borderline high: 130–159 mg/dL
- High: 160–189 mg/dL