Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is key for heart health. Understanding your cholesterol level through testing and knowing how cholesterol and lipids levels change as you age allows you to take proactive steps to lower your risk of heart disease. But how does cholesterol impact your heart health and what steps can you take to move in the right direction? Read on to review optimal cholesterol guidance by age and learn tips to keep your cholesterol in check so you can take control of your heart health.
What is cholesterol?
Understanding cholesterol and how it operates in your body is a great first step to managing your heart health. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like material present in all of your cells, and your body requires it to function correctly. However, too much cholesterol can damage your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease. There are two types of cholesterol called HDL and LDL. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease when levels in the blood become too high. HDL, or "good" cholesterol, helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries to maintain heart health.
There are no symptoms associated with having high cholesterol, so staying up to date on testing your cholesterol and lipid levels is important when trying to keep your cholesterol levels in a healthy range.
The importance of cholesterol and lipids testing
Getting routine testing allows you to monitor your cholesterol numbers and take the necessary steps to keep your levels in an optimal range. In fact, as we age, our cholesterol levels change, making regular monitoring critical.
Purchasing a test like Labcorp OnDemand’s Cholesterol and Lipid Panel Test is one way to stay informed about your cholesterol levels. Checking in with your healthcare provider regularly is also important for monitoring your levels and making lifestyle changes that lower your risk of heart disease. Eating heart-healthy foods, staying active and working with your healthcare provider to create a plan tailored to your needs are a few other ways you can achieve healthy cholesterol levels. But this all begins with getting tested and understanding your numbers.
How often should I test for cholesterol?
It’s important to work with your healthcare provider to make sure you are testing for cholesterol based on your unique needs. Here are the general cholesterol level testing guidelines by age according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Healthy adults age 20 and up: Get your cholesterol checked to establish a baseline and then repeat testing at least once every four to six years. More frequent testing may be warranted if you have any risk factors such as diabetes, obesity or a family history of early heart disease.
Ages 40-75: Talk to your healthcare provider who can do a formal risk assessment to determine your risk[WC1] for heart disease and stroke and whether you should be tested more frequently.
How do I know if my cholesterol levels are healthy?
Here’s a look at the optimal cholesterol levels by gender for otherwise healthy adults, according to the CDC.
Optimal levels:
Adult Men: The optimal LDL cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dL, and the optimal HDL is more than 40 mg
Adult Women: The optimal LDL cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dL, and the optimal HDL is more than 50 mg
Optimal LDL cholesterol levels can change depending on known risk factors such as diabetes and for those already under treatment to lower cholesterol levels.
What if your cholesterol is high?
If your cholesterol levels are outside of the optimal range, you and your healthcare provider can create a plan to help lower your cholesterol. This may include lifestyle changes like eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and/or losing weight.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medication to help maintain your cholesterol level in the optimal range and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. The first step is getting tested to know where your cholesterol levels stand. If you are interested in checking your cholesterol, you can purchase a test like Labcorp OnDemand’s Cholesterol and Lipid Panel Test.
High LDL cholesterol is a silent condition with no warning symptoms, so you don’t know your status until you check your levels. Take control of your heart health by monitoring your cholesterol. Know your numbers and work with your healthcare provider to keep your cholesterol in a healthy range.
