Getting your cholesterol checked is probably not at the top of your list of things to do, but knowing your statistics can be important for your general health at any age.
“People in their 20s may never consider getting their cholesterol checked, but they should because it may uncover a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol that they didn’t know about,” said Dr. Michael Farbaniec, a cardiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “The sooner it’s treated, the more damage you can prevent.”
The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute really advises first getting tested between the ages of 9 and 11 and then every five years after that.
Individuals over 40 should obtain a lipid panel every year, and if their primary care physician doesn't prescribe one, they should insist on having it included to their routine blood work because it is simple to ignore with so many other conditions to keep track of, according to Farbaniec.
WHAT IS A HEALTHY LEVEL OF CHOLESTEROL?
Cholesterol, a waxy substance produced in the liver and present in the blood and all body cells, is essential for the formation of cell walls, the production of hormones, the protection of cells, and other processes. The transport of cholesterol in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as "bad cholesterol," and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), sometimes known as "good cholesterol," is necessary for muscles and cells to obtain energy. A lipid panel examines triglycerides, which are fatty acids in the blood that the body uses as fuel, in addition to total cholesterol.
High levels of triglycerides paired with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol can raise your risk for plaque buildup, fatty liver disease, heart attack, and stroke, each of which are directly impacted by activity and food.
While many people can cite their total cholesterol level and are content if it is below the advised threshold of 200 mg/dL, it turns out that the non-HDL cholesterol value is the most crucial one to know. The result is calculated by deducting your HDL from your overall cholesterol.
TREAT TO THE RISK, NOT THE NUMBERS
For those without risk factors, non-HDL cholesterol should be less than 130 mg/dL. The LDL value should be less than 70 mg/dL for people who have an increased risk of heart disease due to a family or personal history of cardiovascular disease, other health issues, or familial hypercholesterolemia, which is inherited high cholesterol that is unaffected by a change in diet or exercise, according to Farbaniec.