Good Health Means Low Cholesterol Levels
If you are an adult over twenty years old it is important to have your cholesterol level checked about every five years to make sure you have what is considered to be a healthy low cholesterol level. High cholesterol can cause heart disease and is a primary factor in people acquiring hardening of the arteries and causing heart attacks. It is very common these days for people to have their cholesterol levels checked. Doctors usually have their patients take a lipid profile test which checks the LDL (bad cholesterol), the HDL (good cholesterol) and the triglyceride level.
Healthy Cholesterol Level
Experts believe that if your overall cholesterol level is below 200mg/dl than you have a healthy cholesterol level and are considered to be at low risk for acquiring heart disease. It is difficult for people to achieve a healthy cholesterol level or keep an acceptable cholesterol level if they eat an unhealthy diet loaded with saturated fats or if they do not get enough exercise.
If your cholesterol test reveals a cholesterol level between 200 and 240 mg/dl you are placed in the category of people who are considered to have a moderate risk of getting heart disease. If your cholesterol test shows a cholesterol level over 240 mg/dl you are placed in the high risk category. If you are considered high risk, then you are twice as likely to acquire heart disease than someone that has a healthy cholesterol level which is under 200 mg/dl.
If due to your high cholesterol level you are considered a high risk patient you should have an exercise plan created for you by an expert, reduce the saturated fat in your diet, eat healthy foods and if you still have a high cholesterol level your doctor might recommend drugs designed to lower cholesterol such as statins.
HDL the Good Cholesterol
Increasing your good cholesterol level (HDL), get plenty of exercise, avoid smoking, and eat a health diet. For an average sized woman, the HDL cholesterol lever can be anywhere from 50 to 60 mg/dl, compared to a male where the level should be 40 and 50 mg/dl.
Your LDL (bad cholesterol) level is the best source for determining your risk of having a heart attack or having a stroke. It provides a better indication of your risk for heart disease than a total cholesterol level can provide. A LDL level under 100 mg/dl is preferred. A level of 130 to 159 is considered borderline high and 160 to 189 mg/dl is considered to be a high LDL level. A level at 190 or higher is considered by experts to be very high. In order to avoid heart disease, heart attacks and strokes you should have your blood cholesterol checked to find out if you have a healthy cholesterol level.
