When was the last time you checked your cholesterol level or lipid profile? High Cholesterol levels can be found not only in adults but in children as well.
This month is National Cholesterol Education Month. Take time to read the information below to get educated on cholesterol and its effects and remember to talk to your doctor about Cholesterol on your next visit.
- High Blood Cholesterol, What you need to know.
- Do you know your Cholesterol Levels?
- On the Move to Better Heart Health for African Americans
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)
recommends that adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked every 5 years.
If you have not checked your lipid profile in a while, this can be done in your regular annual physical. Call our office 480-598-4145 to schedule an appointment if you would like to get a lipid profile done.
What Do Your Cholesterol Numbers Mean?
Getting a blood test called a fasting lipoprotein profile will give information about your:
• Total cholesterol—It is desirable to have a measurement of less than 200 mg/dL.1
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol—the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. It is optimal to have an LDL level lower than
100 mg/dL. (The higher your LDL cholesterol level, the greater your chance of getting heart disease.) - High-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol—which helps keep cholesterol
from building up in the arteries. An HDL of
≥ 60 mg/dL will help lower your risk for heart disease. (The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease.) - Triglycerides—another form of fat in your blood. Levels that are borderline high (150–199 mg/dL) or high (≥ 200 mg/dL) may need treatment in some people.
