Warning signs of high blood cholesterol
- Most people do not have any signs.
- Sometimes cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels of your heart and cause chest pains.
Everyone age 20 and older should have their cholesterol levels checked at least once every 5 years. You and your doctor can discuss how often you should be tested.
How do you find out?
High blood cholesterol is diagnosed by checking levels of cholesterol in your blood. It is best to have a blood test called a lipoprotein profile to measure your cholesterol levels. You will need to not eat or drink anything (fast) for 9 to 12 hours before taking the test.
The lipoprotein profile will give information about your:
- Total cholesterol
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) bad cholesterol: the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) good cholesterol: the good cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol from building up in arteries
- Triglycerides: another form of fat in your blood
If it is not possible to get a lipoprotein profile done, knowing your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol can give you a general idea about your cholesterol levels. Testing for total and HDL cholesterol does not require fasting. If your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more, or if your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL, you will need to have a lipoprotein profile done.
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. See how your cholesterol numbers compare to the tables below.
Total Cholesterol Level |
Total Cholesterol Category |
Less than 200 mg/dL |
Desirable |
200–239 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
240 mg/dL and above |
High |
LDL Cholesterol Level |
LDL Cholesterol Category |
Less than 100 mg/dL |
Optimal |
100–129 mg/dL |
Near optimal/above optimal |
130–159 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
160–189 mg/dL |
High |
190 mg/dL and above |
Very high |
HDL Cholesterol Level |
HDL Cholesterol Category |
Less than 40 mg/dL |
A major risk factor for heart disease
|
40–59 mg/dL |
The higher, the better |
60 mg/dL and above |
Considered protective against heart disease |
Triglycerides can also raise your risk for heart disease. If you have levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more), you may need treatment. Things that can increase triglyceride levels include:
What can you do?
There are things that you can do to lower your cholesterol.
- Cut back on foods with lots of fat such as fatty meats, fried foods, whole milk, fatty cheeses, butter, margarine, oils, lard,and creams.
- Cut back on food with lots of cholesterol, such as egg yokes and whole eggs.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Cut back on fatty snacks and desserts, such as candy, cookies, doughnuts, muffins, pastries and pies.
-
Exercise at least 30 minutes most days.
- If you are overweight, try to lose weight. Try to lose weight by cutting back on the amount that you eat. Even a small amount of weight loss can help lower your bad cholesterol, and you will also help your health in other ways.
- Ask your doctor if you need to take medicine to help lower your cholesterol.
Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
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