Cholesterol Readings - Is Your Level Too High?
After the age of 40-45 years of age, getting your cholesterol level checked regularly is a good idea in order to prevent other health problems such as cardiovascular disease from developing. Taking a proactive approach in your health will help you to live a long and healthy one.
After having a blood test and having it analyzed for your cholesterol, you will receive a cholesterol reading that consists of your total cholesterol level, lipoprotein levels, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol level. These 4 numbers will give you and your doctor an overall picture of your health. The best total cholesterol reading is 200mg with a limit of 200 mg to 239mg. Experts predict you are at risk of having heart disease if you have a total of 240mg above cholesterol readings.
LDL Cholesterol
Low density lipoprotein is known as bad cholesterol. Having high levels of bad cholesterol means you will have cholesterol deposits in the walls of your blood vessels that means you have an increased risk of heart disease. The desirable LDL cholesterol level is below 200 milligrams. The borderline limit of LDL is between 200-240m. A dangerous level of LDL is considered to be greater than 240 mg.
HDL Cholesterol
High density lipoprotein is known as good cholesterol and it is responsible for cleanses excess cholesterol from tissues to the liver. The liver then works to breaks it down and turn it into bile for removal from the body. A recommended HDL level is 40mg. You must try to keep your HDL level within 40mg to 45mg. Also keep in mind that it should never dip below 40g. HDL helps to protect your heart and improve brain function as it protect the delicate blood vessels in these regions.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat. It collects in the body as fat and then flows into the blood stream. Most fats in our diet are triglycerides. In high dosages, triglycerides thickens the blood and may cause a heart attack or stroke due to clotting of the blood. The recommended triglyceride level is 150 below with a limit of 150 to 199. Triglycerides should not exceed 200 above.
Having your cholesterol level checked on a regular basis is a great idea to help take control of your health. One must keep in mind that there are no ideal readings for cholesterol. There are recommended ranges your cholesterol should be within however, your doctor needs to consider individual risk factor, genetic predisposition due to family history, sex, overall health condition and age.
Physicians generally recommend that if you have a total reading of over 240mg, it is an indication that you should consider some lifestyle changes such as eating cholesterol lowering foods and take up regular exercise. If you have a family history of high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, you should consult your doctor every one to two years in order to get your cholesterol checked. By taking positive action and being aware of your cholesterol reading, you can make some simple but effective changes in lowering your cholesterol.