LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl is considered as very high range. It involves levels of LDL cholesterol such as 191, 192,193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201,202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 230, 235, 236, 237, ,238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 250 and higher levels.
It is associated with a very increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, etc.
The causes of such increased LDL cholesterol are age, gender, physical activity, diet, and being overweight.
What does having an LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl mean?
Cholesterol is a substance of great importance for the well-functioning of a cell. It binds with certain kinds of proteins such as LDL, HDL, VLDL, etc. to travel throughout the bloodstream due to its inability to dissolve in the water.
The lower the level of LDL cholesterol the better.
LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl is considered very high and it is associated with numerous health issues such as angina, heart attack, peripheral artery disease, stroke, etc.
LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl – What are the chances for cardiovascular problems?
Having an LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl is associated with a very increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems. This risk is even higher if such LDL levels are associated with other risk factors such are Diabetes, hypertension, heredity, smoking, old age, etc.
Increased LDL levels, and, therefore, increased cholesterol levels can build up in the walls of the coronary artery causing its inner lumen to narrow down.
The blood that supplies the heart muscle with oxygen diminishes and, therefore, the heart muscle starts to suffer.
If this blockage continues for a long period of time (above 6 hours) people suffer an acute myocardial infarction which can sometimes cause even death. For the aforementioned process to occur, the narrowing should be significant (usually above 75%).
In other cases, even a small plaque can initiate the aforementioned process may initiate from a non-significant plaque. This occurs when the plaque is ruptured and a blood clot is formed on the surface of the plaque, causing the blood flow to diminish.
LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl – A risk for any other health problems?
Not only do LDL cholesterol levels higher than 190mg/dl affect the cardiovascular system, but they affect other parts of the body as well. The most important affections of high LDL levels are:
1. Stroke – It is the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques In the walls of the cerebral arteries. The higher the level of LDL cholesterol, the higher the risk of developing stroke.
2. Peripheral arterial disease – It is caused by the buildup of plaques in the arteries of the limbs( arms, legs, foot, or hand). It happens mostly in the arteries of the legs.
LDL Cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl – Controllable and Uncontrollable Causes
LDL cholesterol level higher than 190 mg/dl is considered very high. The following are the most probable causes of such high LDL levels:
I. Controllable Causes:
1. Diet – Trans fats, saturated fats, sugar and alimentary cholesterol can increase the levels of your LDL cholesterol
2. Weight – Excess weight not only increases your LDL cholesterol but also decreases your HDL levels.
3. Sedentary life- A sedentary life without physical activity increases LDL and decreases HDL.
II. Uncontrollable Causes:
1. Gender- After menopause, the LDL levels of a woman increase
2. Age-The risk of having increased LDL levels increases with old age(women over 55 years old and men over 45 years old)
3. Family history-Having a family member with increased LDL cholesterol increases your chances of developing it yourself as well.
