Cholesterol: Know Your Numbers
The first step in cholesterol education is knowing your own
cholesterol numbers. When you know your numbers, then you know
whether you are at higher risk for heart disease and can implement
simple strategies to bring those numbers down.
Blood cholesterol level is a leading risk indicator for heart
disease. Since heart disease is the number one killer of both men
and women in the United States, killing about a half million people
each year, a lipid profile is one of the most important diagnostic
tests you can have.
High blood cholesterol causes no symptoms itself, but quietly
builds up in on arterial walls. This build-up can cause "hardening
of the arteries" so that arteries become narrow and blood flow to
the heart is slowed or blocked. As blood supply to the heart is
reduced, you may suffer chest pains. If the blood supply is reduced
significantly, or cut off, the result is a heart attack.
Everyone age 16 or older should have his or her cholesterol
measured at least once every five years. It's best to do a lipid
profile, or cholesterol test, after a nine to 12 hour fast. You can
schedule your test in the morning and simply wait until after the
test to eat breakfast.
A lipid profile will give you four important pieces of
information:
- Total Cholesterol
- LDL (bad) cholesterol - the main source of cholesterol build-up
in the arteries
- HDL (good) cholesterol - helps keep cholesterol from building
up in the arteries
- Triglycerides - another form of fat in your blood.
Cholesterol Guidelines
The following guidelines help health professionals evaluate your
need for treatment and lifestyle changes to help reduce your
cholesterol levels:
Total Cholesterol Level
Less than 200 mg/dL is desirable
200-239 mg/dL is borderline high
240 mg/dL and above is high
LDL Cholesterol Level
Less than 100 mg/dL is optimal
100-129 mg/dL is near optimal
130-159 mg/dL is borderline high
160-189 mg/dL is high
190 and above is very high
Triglycerides
Less than 100 is ideal
150-199 mg/dL is borderline high
200 mg/dL is high
Factors that Affect Cholesterol Levels
There are a number of factors which influence your cholesterol
level, including age and gender. As both women and men get older,
their cholesterol levels rise. Women have lower cholesterol levels
than men, generally, but their levels go up after menopause.
Heredity can also affect how much cholesterol your body makes.
There are also lifestyle factors that affect your cholesterol
levels. NUHS physicians work with patients on making lifestyle
changes that improve their diet, weight, stress levels and exercise
habits. Certain natural supplements have favorable effects on
cholesterol levels as well.
National University of Health Sciences clinics specialize in
drug-free health care. What many patients don't know is that
cholesterol medications only work well when accompanied by the same
lifestyle changes that help improve diet, weight and exercise
habits. Also, cholesterol is only one factor in a patient's risk
profile for heart disease. Natural interventions such as proper
supplementation, diet, reducing stress and increasing physical
activity can also address other risk factors for heart disease at
the same time, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and
obesity.
Contact Us
Take your first step in cholesterol education by knowing your
numbers. Call your health professional, or schedule an appointment
at a National University of Health Sciences Whole Health
Center.
