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What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your liver makes cholesterol, and it is also in some foods, such as meat and dairy products. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much cholesterol in your blood, you have a higher risk of coronary artery disease.

How do you measure cholesterol levels?

A blood test called a lipoprotein panel can measure your cholesterol levels. Before the test, you'll need to fast (not eat or drink anything but water) for 9 to 12 hours. The test gives information about your:

  • Total cholesterol - a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. It includes both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
  • LDL (bad) cholesterol - the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries
  • HDL (good) cholesterol - HDL helps remove cholesterol from your arteries
  • Non-HDL - this number is your total cholesterol minus your HDL. Your non-HDL includes LDL and other types of cholesterol such as VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein).
  • Triglycerides - another form of fat in your blood that can raise your risk for heart disease, especially in women
What do my cholesterol numbers mean?

Cholesterol numbers are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Here are the healthy levels of cholesterol, based on your age and gender:

Anyone age 19 or younger:

Type of CholesterolHealthy LevelTotal CholesterolLess than 170mg/dLNon-HDLLess than 120mg/dLLDLLess than 100mg/dLHDLMore than 45mg/dL

Men age 20 or older:

Type of CholesterolHealthy LevelTotal Cholesterol125 to 200mg/dLNon-HDLLess than 130mg/dLLDLLess than 100mg/dLHDL40mg/dL or higher

Women age 20 or older:

Type of CholesterolHealthy LevelTotal Cholesterol125 to 200mg/dLNon-HDLLess than 130mg/dLLDLLess than 100mg/dLHDL50mg/dL or higher

Triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, but they are part of a lipoprotein panel (the test that measures cholesterol levels). A normal triglyceride level is below 150 mg/dL. You might need treatment if you have triglyceride levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more).

How often should I get a cholesterol test?

When and how often you should get a cholesterol 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
What affects my cholesterol levels?

A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels. These are some things you can do to lower your cholesterol levels:

  • Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level rise. Saturated fat is the main problem, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. Foods that have high levels of saturated fats include some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods.
  • Weight. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It also raises your HDL (good) cholesterol level.
  • Physical Activity. Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most, if not all, days.
  • Smoking.Cigarette smoking lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol. HDL helps to remove bad cholesterol from your arteries. So a lower HDL can contribute to a higher level of bad cholesterol.

Things outside of your control that can also affect cholesterol levels include:

  • Age and Sex. 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 (bad) cholesterol levels tend to rise.
  • Heredity. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.
  • 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.
How can I lower my cholesterol?

There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol:

  • Heart-healthy lifestyle changes, which include:
    • Heart-healthy eating. A heart-healthy eating plan limits the amount of saturated and trans fats that you eat. Examples include the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet and the DASH Eating Plan.
    • Weight Management. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol.
    • Physical Activity. Everyone should get regular physical activity (30 minutes on most, if not all, days).
    • Managing stress. Research has shown that chronic stress can sometimes raise your LDL cholesterol and lower your HDL cholesterol.
    • Quitting smoking.Quitting smoking can raise your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries, having more HDL can help to lower your LDL cholesterol.
  • 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 medicines 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 should continue with the lifestyle changes.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Total FDA Approved Drugs

COLGATE TOTAL [Sodium FluorideFNa : TriclosanC12H7Cl3O2]
OTC
-
0.24% : 0.3% (dental paste)
Colgate PalmoliveJul 11, 1997
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

CRESTOR [Rosuvastatin Calcium2C22H27FN3O6SCa]
RX
-
10mg (oral tablet)
20mg (oral tablet)
40mg (oral tablet)
5mg (oral tablet)
IprAug 12, 2003
  • Treatment of pediatric patients 8 to 17 years of age with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hefh).
  • Use of rosuvastatin calcium for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in individuals without clinically evident coronary heart disease but with increased risk factors.
  • Use of rosuvastatin calcium to reduce elevated total-c, ldl-c, apob, nonhdl-c or tg levels; to increase hdl-c in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia; and to slow the progression of atherosclerosis..
efficacy
4.5  (2)
side effects
1.0  (1)
danger
1.0  (1)

UNK

FENOGLIDE [FenofibrateC20H21ClO4]
RX
-
120mg (oral tablet)
40mg (oral tablet)
Santarus IncAug 10, 2007
  • For reducing total cholesterol (total-c), ldl-c, apo-lipoprotein b, or total triglycerides, and treating hypertriglyceridemia.
  • Use of fenofibrate for reducing elevated total cholesterol (total-c), ldl-c, apo-lipoprotein b, or total triglycerides.
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

KYNAMRO [Mipomersen SodiumC230H305N67O122P19S1919Na]
RX
-
200mg/ml (200mg/ml) (subcutaneous solution)
Kastle Theraps LlcJan 29, 2013
  • Adjunctive therapy to lipid-lowering medications and diet to reduce low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apolipoprotein b, total cholesterol, and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol in pts with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

LIVALO [Pitavastatin Calcium2C25H23FNO4Ca]
RX
-
eq 1mg base (oral tablet)
eq 2mg base (oral tablet)
eq 4mg base (oral tablet)
Kowa CoAug 3, 2009
  • Adjuncitve therapy to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprtein b, triglycerides and to increase hdl-c in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia.
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

PROCYSBI [Cysteamine BitartrateC4H6O6C2H7NS]
RX
-
eq 25mg base (oral capsule, delayed release)
eq 75mg base (oral capsule, delayed release)
Horizon Pharma UsaApr 30, 2013
  • Management of nephropathic cystinosis by administering a total daily dose in two divided doses.
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

TRICOR [FenofibrateC20H21ClO4]
RX
-
145mg (oral tablet)
48mg (oral tablet)
AbbvieNov 5, 2004
  • Adjunctive therapy to diet in adults to reduce ldl-c, total-c, triglycerides and apo b, and increase hdl-c in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia (types iia, iib) and to treat hypertriglyceridemia (types iv, v).
  • Adjunctive therapy to diet in adults to reduce ldl-c, triglycerides and apo b, and increase hdl-c in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia (types iia, iib) and to treat hypertriglyceridemia (types iv, v).
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

ZETIA [EzetimibeC24H21F2NO3]
RX
-
10mg (oral tablet)
Msd Intl GmbhOct 25, 2002
  • Reduction of elevated plasma sterol and/or stanol levels in a mammal.
  • To reduce elevated total-c, ldl-c, apo b and non-hdl-c in patients with primary hyperlipidemia by administration of ezetimibe alone or in combination with a statin or with fenofibrate.
  • To reduce plasma cholesterol levels in a mammal.
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK

WARNING: Consult a licensed physician in the appropriate field for medical treatment and drug prescription. Do not self medicate.


WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for reference only. Many of these treatments may be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field. The owner of this website will not be held liable for any injuries and deaths cause by following any home remedies. We have no control of what is posted.

Home Remedies for Total

SORE THROAT [Pharyngitis]
   Red root (Ceanothus americanus) contains ceanothic acid and ceanothetric acid which have been claimed to inhibit Streptococcus bacteria growth in tincture form. To make Red root tea, heat 1 pint of water just below boiling and add 1 ounce of red root. Heat for 20 minutes. Let cool. Gargle with 1 tablespoon, then swallow. Repeat for a total of 4 times a day.
Mechanism - ceanothine A-E, pandamine, zizyphine, scutianine, adouetines
GuydeMaupassant | August 11th, 2020
efficacy
0.0  (0)
side effects
0.0  (0)
danger
0.0  (0)

UNK


WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.

Felter's Materia Medica on Total

CACTUS (Selenicereus spp.)
   The fresh, green stems and the flowers of Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britt. & Rose (and other Selenicereus species—MM) (Cereus grandiflorus,... / ...t cactus is the only remedy that will quicken a slow heart. While there are some who declare cactus totally inert as a medicine, there are others who claim for it great value even in structural altera... / ...organ were held with a strong band, it is often the most prompt of all cardiac remedies. It is a good remedy in the heart troubles produced by to2

RHUS TOXICODENDRON
   The fresh leaves of Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze (Rhus radicans, Linné, Rhus Toxicodendron, Linné) (Nat. Ord. Anacardiaceae) A common... / ... dogwood (Rhus venenata) in point of virulence. While locally poisonous to some persons, others are totally unaffected by it. Many are but mildly poisoned by it; many more, however, show serious evide... / ...dried wood is said to retain it. It has been named toxicodendrol, and is asserted to be in reality the only tangible substance found thus 2

SCUTELLARIASCCH2
   The fresh green herb of Scutellaria lateriflora, Linné (Nat. Ord. Labiatae). Common in damp situations throughout the United States. Dose, 5 to 30 grains. Common Names: Scullcap,... / ... as a cure for hydrophobia, based upon the reports of New Jersey physicians, a claim which time has totally failed to sustain.2

STROPHANTHUSSTROP4
   The dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus Kombé, Oliver, or of Strophanthus hispidus, DeCandolle, deprived of their long awns (Nat. Ord. Apocynaceae).... / ...). Three or four drops of a solution of strophanthin (1 to 1000) applied to the cornea also produce total anesthesia, including insensibility to heat and cold (difference from cocaine), these sensatio... / ...“It has been reported useful in cases of mitral regurgitation with dilatation; mitral stenosis with regurgitation; regurgitation wi2

VERATRUM VIRIDE
   The dried rhizome and roots of Veratrum viride, Aiton (Nat. Ord. Liliaceae). An indigenous plant of swamps, low grounds, and moist meadows. Dose,... / ...ividual alkaloidal constituents is yet undetermined, as well as the effect each produces in the sum total of the effects of the root. According to Wood, the drug is a spinal and arterial depressant ha... / ...Painted upon boils, felons, carbuncles, abscesses, inflamed acne, cellulitis, and other local inflammations, veratrum wi2


References

1) Bergner, Pal., Griswold, Alexandra F., Hufford, David J., et al. . Morton Grove, Il: Publications International, 2017.
2) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.