The ability to maintain a healthy cholesterol level can help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
The first step is knowing and understanding your cholesterol numbers.
The American Heart Association Recommends
For people who are 20 years old and older, their cholesterol should be checked regularly every 4 to 6 years. If it’s high, they have risk factors, or they already have heart disease, their doctor may suggest that they get it checked more often.
How to Get Tested
Cholesterol is monitored with a simple blood test. Your test results will show your levels in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Your total cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol are among the factors your doctor can use to predict your 10-year risk for a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will also take into consideration other risk factors, such as age, family history, smoking status, diabetes, and if you have a history of high blood pressure.
A lipid panel or blood test is used to analyze your overall cholesterol levels. It can determine levels of bad and good cholesterol.
About Cholesterol
HDL – High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy level of this substance can protect one’s heart from various health conditions.
High levels of triglycerides can also reduce HDL, which is a type of good cholesterol. Some of the factors that can lower HDL include smoking, being overweight, and genetic predispositions.
LDL – low levels of LDL are considered positive. LDL is known as the bad form of cholesterol. Diet is vital when it comes to regulating cholesterol levels. High levels of trans fat and saturated fat are considered unhealthy because they can raise LDL cholesterol.
Triglycerides – Triglycerides are the most abundant type of fat in your body. They come from food, and from the body creating them itself.
Normal levels of triglycerides vary depending on sex, age, and other factors. People with high levels of this substance can have a total cholesterol level that’s higher than the LDL and HDL. Individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome also have elevated levels of triglycerides.
Contributing Factors to High Triglyceride Levels Include:
- Carrying excess fat
- Metabolic syndrome
- Insulin Resistance
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Excess sugar intake
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Pregnancy
- Inflammatory diseases
- Some medications
Total Blood Serum Cholesterol
This part of your results is a composite of all the measurements. Your total blood cholesterol is calculated by adding your HDL plus LDL cholesterol levels, plus 20% of your triglycerides.
“Normal ranges” are less important than your overall cardiovascular risk. Your total blood cholesterol level should be considered in context with your other known risk factors.
Depending on the readings your doctor will make recommendations accordingly. Specific levels can vary based on a number of factors including age, weight, and genetics.
If you have high cholesterol and are working to bring it down. We invite you to work with us. Internal Medicine, Lipid, and Wellness of Fort Myers, Florida specializes in lipid management.
We are a private membership concierge primary care service. If you are interested in becoming a patient, please visit https://www.imlwp.com/concierge-membership-plans/ and give us a call by dialing (239) 362-3005 Ext 200.
Sources: What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean | American Heart Association
