Monitoring cholesterol levels is important because high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and/or low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol are risk factors for heart attack and stroke. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, when the heart's blood vessels become clogged by cholesterol the heart does not receive enough oxygen, thereby causing heart disease.
Who Should Be Tested?
Everyone older than 20 years of age should have their cholesterol checked every 5 years. High cholesterol is a major risk factor in heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. About 17 percent of Americans have high blood cholesterol (greater than 240/mg/dL) according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
Desirable Cholesterol Level
Total cholesterol for an adult with no other risk factors should be less than 200 mg/dL with LDL (bad) cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL and HDL (good) cholesterol
60 mg/dL or higher. Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL, according to the CDC.
Borderline High-risk Cholesterol
If total cholesterol levels are between 200 and 239 mg/dL, this is considered to be borderline high-risk, which can be monitored by your physician and lowered by eating a low-cholesterol diet, making lifestyle changes, and in some cases, using medication.
High-risk Cholesterol
If total cholesterol levels exceed 240 mg/dL, the level is considered high-risk with a person having twice the risk of developing coronary heart disease. High-risk levels of cholesterol should be treated and monitored by your physician using lifestyle changes, diet and medication.
Symptoms
High cholesterol does not show outright symptoms, so many people do not know they have high cholesterol. Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight can keep cholesterol levels within the desirable range.
