You visit your dentist every six months for a dental exam, you take your car every three months for an oil change and you keep your appointment with your nail technician every two weeks to ensure your nails look their best. Yes, all of these are important, but so is your heart. Keeping track of your cholesterol levels can prevent the development of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States among men and women.
Understanding Cholesterol
Your body creates cholesterol to keep you healthy. This may be a surprise, given all the talk about the correlation between cholesterol and heart disease. Although this correlation exists, it is only a concern when your cholesterol levels are higher than normal. Once the tissues of your body have the amount of cholesterol they require to function properly, excess amounts build along the walls of your arteries, contributing to a condition known as atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to a number of diseases, all of which place you in grave danger of premature death.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis -- hardening of the arteries -- develops as a result of plaque, a substance formed of cholesterol, fat and other particles in your blood, such as calcium. As plaque continues to build, your arteries harden and narrow, restricting the flow of blood and the oxygen it contains to various areas of your body, most importantly your heart. Atherosclerosis can affect different arteries; the arteries it affects determines the complications you experience. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains if your coronary arteries are blocked, heart disease results; this can lead to a heart attack. Should the arteries of your neck be affected, carotid artery disease is the diagnosis. This blocks blood flow to the brain and can lead to a stroke. Peripheral artery disease occurs when arteries in your legs, pelvis and arms lack blood flow, resulting in difficulty walking, numbness and infection, which may require amputation of the affected limb.
Measuring Your Cholesterol
Measuring your cholesterol helps detect unhealthy levels and your risk for heart disease. A lipid blood test, also known as a lipid profile, is the most accurate way of doing so. A blood sample taken from you measures your total and LDL cholesterol, along with your triglycerides. These are considered "bad" types of cholesterol; they increase your risk of heart disease when too high. Your HDL, or good cholesterol, should be high to reduce your risk of heart disease; it cleanses your body of excess cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends all adults age 20 and over have their cholesterol tested at least once every five years.
Healthy Cholesterol Levels
Healthy cholesterol levels vary according to the type of cholesterol. Your total cholesterol should be between 100 and 199 mg/dL, while your LDL is normal when less than 130 mg/dL if you have a low risk of heart disease. If, however, you are obese, have a family history of heart disease, smoke or have diabetes, your doctor may prefer an LDL reading of 100 or lower. Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL, while your HDL should be more than 40 mg/dL.
Considerations
Work closely with your doctor and/or dietitian if your cholesterol is too high. Early detection may enable you to reverse the effects high cholesterol has on your body. Make any dietary or lifestyle changes your physician suggests; they may save your life. Keep all doctor appointments and go for cholesterol testing as your doctor instructs. Tracking your cholesterol levels regularly allows him to decide if you require treatment, or to adjust your current treatment plan if necessary.
