Know Your Cholesterol Levels?
You Should!
Taking care of your health may seem like a numbers
game — weight, blood pressure, blood sugar — but
don’t forget about cholesterol, one of the most important
predictors of your risk for heart disease.
You may think that cholesterol is only something to worry about if you have heart problems. But cholesterol is circulating in everyone’s blood, from marathon runners to couch potatoes. Many people are walking around with a cholesterol problem without knowing it.
“Everyone age 20 and up should get a cholesterol check every five years,” says Brad Wylie, Internal Medicine physician at Dexter Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. “High cholesterol has no symptoms, so the only way to know if your levels are healthy is to get tested. Even if you already have high cholesterol or heart disease, it’s never too late to make improvements and prevent these problems from getting any worse.”
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body makes naturally and is needed (in small amounts) in order for your body to function. It is also found in many animal-based foods, such as dairy and meat.When your body has too much cholesterol, it builds up in your arteries and restricts blood flow to the heart, thereby causing heart disease. If the problem isn’t corrected, high cholesterol can eventually lead to a heart attack.
Healthy cholesterol is actually a balance between two different kinds of cholesterol. Low-density-lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol is the main source of artery-clogging plaque. High-density-lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood. High levels of triglycerides — another form of fat in our bloodstream — can also cause heart disease. Excess calories, alcohol, and sugar are converted into triglycerides.
A simple blood test ordered by your doctor will reveal your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels.
What Causes High Cholesterol?
“Too much cholesterol can be the result
of too much saturated fat, trans fat, or
cholesterol in your diet,” Wylie says.
“Being overweight, smoking, and not
exercising also add to the problem. Some
factors are out of your control, however,
such as heredity, gender, and age. But
don’t let that discourage you from making some healthy
changes to your life.”
How Is It Treated?
If your physician finds your cholesterol level to be less than optimal, he or she will talk with you about an individual plan to improve it. This may require a cholesterol-lowering diet, increased physical activity, other lifestyle changes, or medication.“Treatments for high cholesterol vary widely, depending on the patient’s individual risk factors,” says Wylie.
Knowledge is an important first step in the battle against high cholesterol and heart disease. If you’re overdue for a cholesterol check, do your heart a favor and get tested, and encourage family members to do the same.
What Should I Aim For?
Depending on your risk factors, your doctor may recommend something different from the numbers listed in the table below. However, these are the general guidelines as recommended by the American Heart Association.
