Cholesterol levels - Restore Health Clinic

What is cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two types:

• LDL cholesterol - the "bad" cholesterol that can build up in your arteries
• HDL cholesterol - the "good" cholesterol that helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries

Cholesterol levels refer to the amount of each type of cholesterol in your blood. Too much LDL cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

So what are healthy cholesterol levels?

The American Heart Association recommends these levels:

• Total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL. The optimal level is below 70 mg/dL.
• HDL cholesterol: 60 mg/dL or higher helps lower your risk for heart disease.

What affects cholesterol levels?

Several factors can influence your cholesterol levels including:

• Diet - Saturated and trans fats can raise LDL cholesterol levels.
• Weight - Being overweight tends to increase your LDL and lower your HDL.
• Physical activity - Exercise helps boost HDL levels.
• Smoking - Lowers HDL cholesterol.
• Age/gender - Levels of LDL cholesterol rise in men starting at age 45 and in women after menopause.

How do you know your cholesterol levels?

Getting your cholesterol checked requires a simple blood test. Guidelines recommend:

• All adults get tested at least once every 5 years starting at age 20.
• Those with risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure should get tested more often.

What happens if you have high cholesterol? What do the doctor's recommend?

If you have high LDL or low HDL cholesterol levels, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as:

• Losing weight
• Exercising more
• Quitting smoking
• Eating a heart-healthy diet

If cholesterol levels stay elevated, your doctor may also prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications like statins. These help reduce plaque buildup in arteries and lower heart disease and stroke risk.

Monitoring and managing cholesterol levels is important to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits combined with medication if needed can help keep levels in check. Speak to your doctor at Restore Health Clinic to determine what plan is right for you.