Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body uses to keep your blood vessels pliable and moveable. However, excess cholesterol in your diet can cause a buildup in your arteries, which can potentially lead to heart disease and heart attack. High cholesterol levels are a concern for both men and women. However, there are some differences in cholesterol levels and treatment that men should consider when caring for their bodies.
Total Levels
A physician can measure your cholesterol levels via a fasting blood test. The test can reveal several numbers: your total cholesterol level, low-density lipoprotein level, high-density lipoprotein level and triglycerides. For both men and women, total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL of blood are considered high. Between 200 and 239 mg/dL is borderline high while less than 200 mg/dL is a desirable level.
Gender Differences
Men tend to have higher cholesterol levels than women until about the age of 55, when women reach menopause. Your cholesterol levels tend to get higher as you age, regardless of whether you are a woman or man. However, men have a tendency to go to the doctor significantly less, even for checkups as basic as a cholesterol test, according to "Mail Online." Begin cholesterol testing at age 20, then have regular checkups as recommended by your physician. Note that high cholesterol levels tend to run in families. If your mother or father had high cholesterol, this can increase your risk.
HDL Cholesterol
An important indicator for overall health in men, however, are your HDL cholesterol levels. Also known as the "good" cholesterol form, HDL cholesterol removes harmful cholesterol from your blood, helping to keep you healthy. A 2011 study published in the "American Journal of Cardiology" conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology and Research Information Center in Boston found that men with high HDL cholesterol levels were 28 percent less likely to die before age 85 than men with low HDL cholesterol levels, according to Reuters.com. Incorporating niacin, a B vitamin found in dairy products, lean meat, eggs, fish and nuts may help men boost their HDL cholesterol levels for better health.
Your Lifestyle
A healthy body and lifestyle can help you to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease and heart attack. A 2009 study conducted at Buffalo State College in New York found that men in particular experienced cholesterol-lowering benefits when they lifted weights, according to Fox News. Incorporating three times per week strength-training sessions to your cardiovascular sessions can have cholesterol-lowering benefits. Also, you can limit your saturated fat sources like red meat in favor of healthy fats like flaxseed oil, which has been shown to lower cholesterol in men, according to Science Daily. Because high cholesterol levels can be affected by heredity, sometimes medications may be one of the only options to lower cholesterol levels, however.
References
- American Heart Association; What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean; 2011
- Reuters.com; High Good Cholesterol Linked to Long Life in Men; Leigh Krietsch Boerner; February 2011
- Rush University Medical Center: Five Things You Should Know About Cholesterol
- Science Daily; Flaxseed Lowers High Cholesterol in Men, Study Suggests; March 2010
- Fox News; Strength Training Helps Men Lower Cholesterol; April 2009
- "Mail Online"; Men Care More About Cars Than Their Health; June 2011
