It makes sense to get your cholesterol checked frequently because your body offers no symptoms to clue you in about the status of your cholesterol levels. MayoClinic.com recommends you get your first cholesterol test at age 20 and no less than every five years after that. If you can control your cholesterol through diet, you decrease your risk for heart attacks and strokes and may eliminate the need to take medication.
Cholesterol Test
A cholesterol test measures three types of fat in your bloodstream: HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. High density lipoprotein cholesterol is often called the "good" cholesterol because it helps your body shed unhealthy fats. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol earned the nickname "bad" cholesterol because it clogs your arteries and puts you at risk for heart disease. Triglycerides, another type of low density fat, also can also get trapped in your arteries, making it difficult for blood to flow properly to your heart, brain and other vital organs.
Diet and Cholesterol
Reduce your risk of serious disease by making lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol. You can begin by reducing the amount of saturated fat you eat. Saturated fat, found in all animal products and especially in red meat, can raise both your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Choose leaner meat and include more vegetable protein such as soy and kidney beans in your diet. Keep trans fats, found in margarine and shortening, to a minimum. Add healthy fats, such as those in olive oil and fatty fish, because these oils help remove clogged fat from your bloodstream. You can improve your overall cholesterol by losing weight and improve your healthy HDL cholesterol by exercising. Sugar and alcohol consumption affect your triglyceride levels, so moderate your consumption of both.
Avoid Medication Side Effects
If you can control your medication though diet, you avoid the side effects and drug interactions associated with cholesterol-lowering medications. Statins are the most effective drugs for lowering LDL cholesterol, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Statins reduce your risk of heart attacks and stroke, but their side effects include a condition called myopathy, which can lead to kidney failure. Lesser side effects include sexual dysfunction, nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort and tingling and numbness in your hands and feet. Niacin, helpful in raising healthy HDL cholesterol, may elevate your blood sugar levels and cause blurred vision, dizziness, headache, itching and facial and neck flushing. Fibrates, prescribed to lower triglycerides, may cause muscle aches, gallstones, sensitivity to light and skin rashes.
Considerations
Diet alone may prove insufficient in keeping your cholesterol levels under control. You doctor may prescribe medication if your family history includes premature heart disease. He might also recommend medication if you smoke, suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes, test very low for levels of healthy HDL cholesterol, get little physical activity or weigh much more than you should. Barring any outside risk factors, your doctor may also prescribe medication if your LDL cholesterol tests higher than 190 mg/dl.
