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Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in your blood. It can be made by your body. But, you also get it from the food you eat.
Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause health problems. If too much of it builds up, blood can't flow to your heart. This can cause a heart attack.
More than half of all American adults have unhealthy cholesterol levels. There are two types of cholesterol that make up your total cholesterol reading.
HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is "good cholesterol". It removes cholesterol from the blood stream. The higher your HDL level is, the better. Men's HDL levels should be above 40 mg/dL. Women's HDL levels should be above 50 mg/dL. Lower levels can raise your chance for heart disease. Levels higher than 60 mg/dL can lower your chance for heart disease.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level
Unlike HDL, lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad cholesterol," are better. LDL leaves cholesterol on your artery walls. This creates cholesterol plaque that can clog your arteries. Your goal LDL level should be based on your chance of having a heart attack. This is based on your age, tobacco use, blood pressure and HDL level. Your doctor will also factor in diabetes and family history of heart disease.
Too much or too little of HDL or LDL can affect your health. A cholesterol blood test is used to find out if you have too much of either.
Cholesterol Testing
A cholesterol test is a blood test that checks your blood cholesterol levels. Your doctor will let you know if you need to fast, or not eat or drink, before the test. The test results will show your levels in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood.
There are three types of tests:
- Full lipid panel – This test is most often used to judge the chances of heart disease. It measures total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels and triglyceride levels.
- Total cholesterol test – This measures the total of all types of cholesterol in your blood to see if the level is normal or high. It is used as often as the lipid panel.
- Direct LDL test – This measures your LDL level only and is used when LDL can’t be measured by the other test for technical reasons.
The goal of all three tests is the same: to let you know your risk of heart disease. These tests start at age 35 for most men and 45 for most women. A cholesterol test is recommended every five years or as directed by your doctor.
While results can vary, the best levels are often:
- Total cholesterol: Less than 200 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL)
- HDL: More than 40 mg/dL for men; more than 50 mg/dL for women
- LDL: Less than 100 mg/dL
- Triglyceride: Less than 150 mg/dL
Managing Cholesterol
To keep cholesterol levels under control, get them checked regularly. Risk factors for high cholesterol are:
- Not being active.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Eating a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet.
The good news is you can lower your cholesterol. You can make healthy food and lifestyle choices. These include watching what you eat and avoiding cigarette smoke.
Let your doctor know if high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease run in your family. All of these can be hereditary. Your doctor may suggest diet and lifestyle changes. They can also do tests to help assess your risk. This will help them decide if medication is a good choice for you.
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