So you get your cholesterol panel from your provider with a note that says, “Work on diet and exercise.” Now what do you do and what does it all mean?
First of all stop panicking. Cholesterol is one of numerous factors we use to predict heart your lifetime or 10-year risk for heart attack or stroke. We also consider other factors such as age, smoking status, family history, blood pressure, and blood sugars. You can break your cholesterol panel down into 4 main parts – HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides (dietary) and total cholesterol.
HDL (good) cholesterol at a good level ( > 40 for men; > 50 for women) can protect against stroke and heart attack. It is generally lower due to genetic factors, Type 2 Diabetes, smoking, being overweight, and being sedentary. Women tend to have higher levels then men, but this can change after menopause.
LDL (bad) cholesterol is the one we want to keep low ( < 130 in average people and < 100 in people treated with a statin) to promote good heart health. Diets high in saturated and trans fats tend to raise LDL cholesterol levels.
Triglycerides are a common type of fat in your body that comes from your food as well as your body also makes them. Normal levels vary by age and gender but generally we aim for them to be < 150. People with high triglycerides tende to have high total cholesterol levels as well. There are many factors that can increase triglycerides especially with diet but others include chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroid, kidney disease and some medications.
Total Cholesterol is a general makeup of the different measurement. Normal ranges are less important than your overall cardiovascular risk and should be taken into context with your other risk factors.
Still confused regarding your lipid profile? It may be worth switching up your provider to one who can sit down with you to reassure you or motivate you to better lifestyle changes to improve your health. Come visit us at Cool Creek Family Health to learn more!!
