Cholesterol levels - Rejuvenate 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 and increase your risk for heart disease and stroke
• HDL cholesterol - the "good" cholesterol that helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries

When we talk about cholesterol levels, we're referring to the amount of each type of cholesterol in your blood. Here are normal levels:

• Total cholesterol - less than 200 mg/dL is considered desirable. Between 200-239 mg/dL is borderline high. Over 240 mg/dL is considered high.
• LDL cholesterol - less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal. 130-159 mg/dL is borderline high. Over 160 mg/dL is considered high.
• HDL cholesterol - 40 mg/dL or higher for men and 50 mg/dL or higher for women is considered beneficial.

So how do you know if your cholesterol levels are out of whack? Getting your cholesterol checked is part of a routine health screening. Your doctor can do a simple blood test called a lipid panel. This will measure your total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides (another blood fat).

There are often no signs or symptoms that your cholesterol is high, so getting tested is important. If your levels are concerning, your doctor may have you recheck levels in a few months. If levels remain elevated, they'll talk to you about lifestyle changes and possibly cholesterol-lowering medications like statins.

What impacts cholesterol levels? There are controllable and uncontrollable risk factors:

Controllable:

• Diet - Saturated and trans fats can raise cholesterol
• Weight - Being overweight tends to impact cholesterol
• Physical activity level
• Smoking

Uncontrollable:

• Age - Cholesterol starts to rise after age 20
• Family history - High cholesterol can run in families
• Gender - Women tend to have higher HDL levels before menopause

The good news is that healthy lifestyle choices can make a big difference. Even if you have a family history, focus on heart-healthy eating patterns, regular exercise, weight management, and not smoking. Follow your doctor's guidance on medications or supplements too. Keeping cholesterol levels within check is important for long-term health!