What should be normal cholesterol? Its norm depends on the gender and age of the individual. This substance is involved in many biological processes of the body, so an increase or decrease in its permissible values directly affects the state of health. Many patients try to achieve and maintain its level in the allowed range.
What is cholesterol?
What should be normal cholesterol? Before answering this question, consider what it is. This compound is a fatty (lipophilic) alcohol, which is located in the cell membranes of an individual and takes part in various biochemical processes. The year of the discovery of cholesterol is 1769. About eighty percent of this water-insoluble substance is synthesized by the liver, sex glands, intestines, kidneys and adrenal glands. With food, only twenty percent of it enters the body. Of the functions that he performs, it should be noted participation in:
- The synthesis of various hormonal substances - estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, aldosterone, cortisol, as well as bile acids.
- Vitamin D.
- Digestion.
- Maintaining immunity.
The body needs a certain amount of this substance, so it is important to know what the rate of cholesterol in the blood should be. With a deficiency or its excess, the individual has health problems.
Classification and types
Blood-insoluble fatty alcohol joins proteins and exists in the body in the form of lipoproteins, or they are also called lipoproteins, which, depending on the ratio of two substances, are:
- Very low density (have a letter designation - VLDL) - almost do not contain protein. If their indicator exceeds the norm, then the risk of serious endocrine pathologies increases - jaundice, renal failure, viral hepatitis.
- Low density (LDL) or “bad” - its main role is to transfer fat particles from the liver structures to the peripheral regions. It is the predominance of this type of lipoproteins that increases the risk of vascular and cardiac pathologies.
- High density (HDL) or “good” - for cell membranes it serves as a building material, the more such sterol, the better for the body. This compound has a beneficial effect on the walls of blood vessels, making them stronger, more elastic and denser. In addition, it promotes the dissolution of plaques, i.e., performs the function of purification, relieving blood vessels of cholesterol deposits. Its low level provokes a malfunction of the cardiovascular system.
- Intermediate Density (STD) - live in the blood for a fairly short period. Their main job is to transfer sterol from the liver to all the cellular tissues of the body.
Cholesterol - harm or benefit?
This compound is natural for humans, it takes part in many biochemical processes. What cholesterol should be normal: "bad" or "good"? The division into two varieties is rather arbitrary. Both types are necessary for the body in a certain amount. Even the “bad” is very important and if it were not for it, then the individual could not live. However, exceeding it above acceptable values is more dangerous than “good”. In addition, you must have information on the amount of total cholesterol. The main part of this substance is produced in the liver, but if taken separately, then:
- HDL - most are synthesized directly in the liver.
- LDL - Three-quarters of it is formed in the liver, and twenty-five percent comes from food. For this reason, doctors recommend a healthy diet.
In addition, cholesterol includes:
- Triglycerides - they are considered the most common fats in the body of the individual fats, which are a source of energy and play an important role in metabolic processes. They are esters of glycerol and higher fats. If their number is normal, then there is no reason to worry, and if the level is too high, then this phenomenon is as dangerous as the increase in "bad" cholesterol. In this condition, a person burns a little energy, and consumes a lot. As a result, the pressure figures go up, the amount of glucose increases and fat deposits appear.
- Very low density lipoproteins are involved in vascular blockage, so their number must also be monitored. Their main function is to transport fats to the liver.
Each type of cholesterol has its own norm. It depends on gender and age, the excess or decrease of which is fraught with pathological disorders.
What factors affect cholesterol concentration?
What cholesterol level should be normal and what are the reasons for this? Doctors recommend checking this indicator once every five years after twenty years of age. The average permissible value (in mmol / l) for all ages, regardless of gender, is 5 total cholesterol and 4 LDL. Its concentration is influenced by:
- Physical activity - regular exercise increases the content of "good" and reduces the "bad" sterol in the blood.
- Age and gender - its level increases over the years. The female gender before menopause has lower numbers than men in the same period. However, after menopause, “bad” cholesterol goes up.
- Heredity - genes affect the amount of sterol produced.
- Body weight - overweight is a serious risk factor for excess adult blood cholesterol levels.
- Nutrition - the use of saturated sterols and fats products also contributes to its high levels in the blood.
- Diabetes - constant monitoring of the course of the disease is necessary.
In addition, some medical procedures and medications can trigger a rise in blood cholesterol.
The role of cholesterol for the male body
Despite the fact that this substance is present in any organism, there are some features of its metabolism in the male. This phenomenon is associated with the different purpose of both sexes, the difference in hormonal levels, which contributes to the formation of the skeleton and muscle frame in the male type. This compound is involved in the production of steroid and sex hormonal substances - cortisol and testosterone, which are responsible for muscle growth and sexual function.
Cholesterol is found in red blood cells, neurons, hepatocytes, and is also part of bile. It affects the maintenance of the balance of vitamin D and immunity, participates in the synthesis of phospholipid, which forms the basis of nerve fibers. In addition to hormonal metabolism and sexual nuances, its level is influenced by a lifestyle that includes poor nutrition (preference for fast foods), lack of concern for one’s health. As a result, men consume more potentially harmful products, which leads to gastrointestinal problems, vascular and heart diseases, as well as endocrine disruptions.
The norm of blood cholesterol by age in men
With age, hormonal shakes occur in men and indicators of fat metabolism undergo changes. From thirty years, the likelihood of occurrence of pathologies of the cardiovascular system increases. Therefore, doctors advise taking biomaterial for cholesterol once every ten, and after reaching the age of fifty - every five years. Consider the norm of total cholesterol in the blood (mmol / l) depending on age:
- From 30 to 40 - 3.57–6.99. After thirty years, the regenerative capabilities of the body are reduced, there is a danger of developing hypercholesterolemia. In a blood test, the level of low density lipoproteins is also checked, since it is the control of this indicator that is important in assessing the risks of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
- From 40 to 50 - 3.91–7.15. During hormonal adjustment in men, testosterone production decreases, the layer of subcutaneous fat increases, which, together with an improper lifestyle, contributes to the development of obesity and diabetes. These factors negatively affect the state of blood vessels.
- From 50 to 60 - 4.09–7.15. If you do not give up bad habits, do not follow the diet and do not exercise, then the risk of pathology of the cardiovascular system increases significantly.
- Older than 60 - 4.09. There is a low level of lipids, but with the slightest exacerbation of chronic diseases and the maintenance of an improper lifestyle, their concentration increases. Therefore, regular monitoring is required.
More detailed information on what type of cholesterol should normally be in males is presented in the table.
Increased cholesterol in men: what is the danger?
Exceeding acceptable parameters leads to damage to the walls of blood vessels, inside of which an atherosclerotic plaque forms. As a result, serious complications develop such as:
- endocrine pathologies;
- Ischemic heart disease;
- thromboembolism;
- myopathy
- angina pectoris;
- cardiosclerosis;
- heart failure;
- hypertension;
- arrhythmia;
- migraine;
- dementia
- stroke;
- preinfarction condition;
- cerebral arteriosclerosis;
- fatty liver disease;
- renal failure;
- Varicose veins;
- gangrene;
- cramps
- failure of reproductive function;
- trophic ulcers;
- obliterating endarteritis.
Thus, deviations from acceptable values negatively affect the work of all organs and systems of the individual's body. Therefore, it is important to know what normal cholesterol should be in the blood. Degenerative changes quickly become irreversible.
Permissible cholesterol (mmol / l) in women
In youth, even with some errors in nutrition, metabolic processes proceed quickly and the level of sterol does not increase. However, long-term dietary disorders, endocrine system diseases, malfunctioning of the liver and age-related changes provoke an increase in the level of blood cholesterol in women above the norm. For beautiful ladies, who are over thirty, the permissible values are slightly higher, since during this period the metabolism slows down. At the age of forty and further, in connection with a decrease in childbearing function, the amount of estrogen that protects against an increase in cholesterol decreases. With the onset of menopause, its level can increase dramatically. Particular attention is paid to this indicator during the period of expectation of the baby, since significant deviations from the permitted values can harm not only the future mother, but also the baby.
A slight increase in indicators is the norm, this phenomenon is associated with a change in the intensity of lipid metabolism and hormonal restructuring of the female body. It is important to know what level of cholesterol in the blood is considered normal during pregnancy. For example, an increase in the so-called "bad" cholesterol is the cause of some congenital abnormalities of the cardiovascular system in crumbs. In this regard, doctors recommend throughout the interesting position of women to monitor this indicator at least three times. After delivery, everything returns to normal. The length of time that is needed for this will depend on the individual characteristics of the body.
The table above contains information on what level of cholesterol in the blood is normal in women of different ages.
How to normalize cholesterol?
To do this, it is desirable to change your diet, enriching it with the following products:
- Tomatoes
- fish
- ginger;
- avocado;
- fresh carrots;
- garlic
- nuts
- citrus fruits;
- olive oil.
For example, taking ½ avocado every day for three weeks reduces cholesterol by eight, and olive oil by eighteen percent (provided that the individual will consume only this oil, excluding cream and sunflower).
Exercising will not only help to cope with an overestimated sterol, but also to normalize weight. Any physical activity - tennis, yoga, running, swimming, aerobics, walking, cycling, should be carried out three times a week for thirty to fifty minutes.
In some cases, doctors recommend taking medications - “Simvastatin”, “Rosuvastatin”, “Atorvastatin”, “Fluvastatin” and others.
Blood test
According to medical statistics, many men and women have elevated cholesterol levels. This phenomenon adversely affects the state of health. To prevent and identify possible pathologies, it is necessary to control some indicators using a lipid profile. Thanks to a detailed clinical blood test for cholesterol, the norm or deviations from it is not difficult to detect. A study on the lipid spectrum is carried out in the morning. This is an effective and rather informative way by which the doctor has the opportunity to obtain the necessary information about the individual’s health, as well as to eradicate the risk of blood clots and atherosclerosis. Preparation for its implementation includes:
- Restriction of physical and mental activity two days before the delivery of biomaterial.
- Twelve hours before blood donation, refusal of drugs that lower cholesterol (as agreed with the treating doctor).
- The exception is the use of products with a high fat content, as well as the ingestion of food, alcohol-containing drinks eight hours before the procedure.
- In the morning, before going to the laboratory, do not smoke.
An analysis for cholesterol, the norm of which differs for women and men, can be taken at a medical institution at the place of residence. There are express methods that allow you to do this manipulation at home. It is especially important to control the lipid spectrum for people at risk:
- women after menopause;
- men over forty;
- obese
- smokers
- after a heart attack or cerebrovascular accident;
- leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Causes of Low Cholesterol
What should be the norm of cholesterol in a person you now know. However, there are situations in which this indicator is underestimated. In this case, the body lacks the necessary material for the construction of new cells and the synthesis of hormonal substances. In addition, it is very dangerous for the brain and nervous system. As a result, the individual develops depression, memory worsens. Factors contributing to the reduction of sterol are as follows:
- Liver diseases, anemia, hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis.
- Starvation.
- Sepsis.
- Cachexia.
- Extensive burns.
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Reception of estrogens, MAO inhibitors, as well as interferons.
Conclusion
After reading the article, you now know what should be the norm of cholesterol in humans. With age, the individual undergoes various changes, the appearance of which requires regular monitoring. Otherwise, negative health effects occur. One of the important indicators is cholesterol, the control over the content of which is carried out by donating venous blood. By analyzing the results of laboratory tests, the doctor will be able to identify the risk of developing heart and blood vessel abnormalities in advance, and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.