Cholesterol Level Facts
Men aged 35 or older and women who are aged 45 and older should both have their cholesterol levels checked on a yearly basis. You may have to have it checked more than yearly if you have other risk factors for heart disease.
Your cholesterol level tells a story about your health. There are many things that you should know about when to check your level and how often. You should also know what to do once you know what your cholesterol level is.
Men aged 35 or older and women who are aged 45 and older should both have their cholesterol levels checked on a yearly basis. You may have to have it checked more than yearly if you have other risk factors for heart disease.
Some other risk factors for heart disease are: If you have already had one or more heart attacks, being a male older than 45 or being a female older than 55, being a female and going through or having already completed menopause, if you have an immediate family member (parent or sibling) who had a heart disease, if you smoke cigarettes, have high blood pressure, have diabetes, are overweight or are obese, and also if you are inactive.
You should know that there are different types of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a substance that travels through our bloodstream in different packages, which are called "lipoproteins".
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are substances that carry cholesterol to the body.
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All this cholesterol risk information is interesting, but what does it mean for your child today? Knowing that there may be health issues for your child in the future based on the cholesterol levels they have today and their risk factors can translate into making better decisions regarding diet, and exercise while they are growing so that they can minimize their risk factors and form healthy habits to control their cholesterol now and in the future.
Hdl Cholesterol
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High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are substances that remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. In other words it gets rid of the bad cholesterol (LDL).
What is your total cholesterol level? This is the total for both your LDL and your HDL. The desired level of total cholesterol is less than 200. If your total cholesterol level is between 200 and 239 than you have borderline high cholesterol. If your total cholesterol level is 240 or more this means that you are at an increased risk for heart disease.
What are your LDL cholesterol levels? These are your "bad" cholesterol level and you want it to be low. Below 100 is ideal for those who have a higher number of risk factors for heart disease. If your level is 100 to 129 than this is ideal for the average individual. If your level is 130 to 159 than this indicates a borderline high level and if your number is 160 or more than this means that you have a higher than normal risk for heart disease.
What are your HDL cholesterol levels? These are your "good" cholesterol level and you want it to be high. If your HDL cholesterol level is less than 40 than it means that you are at high risk for heart disease. If you have a level that is 60 or higher this is good, as it will reduce your risk for heart disease.
Now that you know your cholesterol levels and what they mean you can use the information to make better lifestyle choices such as to stop smoking if you smoke and to lose weight if you are overweight and also to actively exercise daily according to the recommendations of your doctor.
Newest Info on Cholesterol
09/01/2010
Genzyme, Isis: Cholesterol Drug Meets Goals In Fourth Late-stage Trial - Update
Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISIS) reported Wednesday that their investigational cholesterol-reducing drug Mipomersen met all study goals in a late-stage trial in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or heFH.
Genzyme, Isis: Cholesterol Drug Meets Goals In Fourth Late-stage Trial - Update
09/02/2010
Genzyme says drug lowers cholesterol
Genzyme Corp. has told a society of cardiologists that tests of its potential cholesterol drug, mipomersen, have yielded encouraging results. Cambridge-based Genzyme is collaborating on mipomersen with Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. , of Carlsbad, Calif. Genzyme - Mipomersen - Cholesterol - Hypercholesterolemia - Isis Pharmaceuticals
Genzyme says drug lowers cholesterol
09/02/2010
Cholesterol: Junk food now can hurt you later
Young adults out there, take note: The occasional Big Mac, slice of pizza or ice cream cookie binge may be fine — but you'd be wise not to make a habit out of it.
Cholesterol: Junk food now can hurt you later
09/03/2010
Larsen: Cholesterol awareness
To the editor: September is National Cholesterol Awareness Month. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. As blood cholesterol rises, so does the risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke, are present, this risk increases even more.
Larsen: Cholesterol awareness
09/02/2010
Cholesterol rose after taking glucosamine and chondroitin
I took glucosamine and chondroitin for about seven months. I had gotten little relief for my back pain, but I was willing to continue it to see if eventually it would help. Around that time, I had blood work done and found that my cholesterol had jumped from under 200 to 239. I had made no changes in lifestyle or diet other than these supplements. I haven't taken any since.
Cholesterol rose after taking glucosamine and chondroitin
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