What's Your L?

Baptist Health and Jeannie Blaylock with First Coast News have teamed up to help you learn more about your heart and how to keep it healthy. For some people, that begins with knowing their "L" or LDL cholesterol level. If you know your LDL and it's high, you can change it through diet, exercise, and sometimes medications. The problem is, high cholesterol doesn't cause symptoms, so a lot of people don't take its risks very seriously. The good news is that high cholesterol is one risk factor for heart attack and stroke that you can change.

A Lesson on "L" When too much LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result. In fact, experts estimate that more than 50% of all heart attacks and 20% of strokes can be linked to high cholesterol. Most people should aim for an LDL level of less than 100 mg/dL. However, people who already have heart disease may need to aim for under 70 mg/dL.

"I'm thrilled to team up with the heart experts at Baptist. We believe What's Your L? will save lives." Jeannie Blaylock First Coast News Anchor

LDL Isn't The Only Number That Matters HDL (Good cholesterol) HDL is known as the "good" cholesterol because it cleans up LDL cholesterol, which sticks to artery walls. You should aim for 60 mg/dL or higher, according to the American Heart Association. Triglycerides Triglycerides are a normal type of fat found in your blood. Like cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides can increase your risk of cardiovascular problems. Aim for a level of less than 150 mg/dL. Total Cholesterol The sum of your HDL and LDL is your total cholesterol. While staying under 200 mg/dL is still considered desirable, it's more important to know if your "bad" LDL or triglycerides are too high. You also may be at risk if your "good" HDL is too low. Heart Screenings Heart Health Quizzes and Calculators Saturday, June 14, 10 am - 1 pm, Johnson Family YMCA, 5700 Cleveland Rd. To sign up, call 904.765.3589. We Care Jacksonville Click to download a free wallet card To help you track these very important numbers, we offer this wallet card you can download and print out to record your health information.