The struggle for most people is balancing these levels. While total and LDL cholesterol levels should be kept low, having more HDL cholesterol can offer some protection against a person developing heart-related illnesses including heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol levels tend to increase with age. Doctors recommend taking steps earlier in life to prevent dangerously high levels of cholesterol developing as a person ages.
Years of unmanaged cholesterol can be much trickier to treat. Children are least likely to have high levels of cholesterol and only need to have their levels checked once or twice before they are 18 years old. However, if the child has risk factors for higher levels of cholesterol, they should get monitored more frequently.
Typically, men tend to have higher levels of cholesterol throughout life than women. Variation of recommended levels tends to change due to other health conditions and considerations.
By comparison, acceptable levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in children are different. The best recommendation for children and adolescents to keep cholesterol levels in check is living a healthful, active lifestyle. This includes eating a healthful diet and getting plenty of exercise. Sedentary, overweight children who eat a diet high in processed foods are most likely to have high cholesterol.
Children who have a family history of high cholesterol may also be at risk. Generally, the earlier an adult starts living a healthful lifestyle, the better for their cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol levels build over time. A sudden change in lifestyle will help eventually, but the older a person is, the less impact they will see in cholesterol levels. All adults should stay active and maintain regular exercise routines. Women going through menopause and adults with high levels of cholesterol may want to consider medication that will help reduce cholesterol levels more rapidly than diet alone.
High cholesterol at any age puts a person at risk for heart disease, heart attack, and strokes. These risks only increase over time, especially for adults who are not taking action to reduce their cholesterol buildup.
Children should see a doctor for cholesterol checks once or twice before the age of 18 but not during puberty. If the child comes from a family that has a history of heart disease or is overweight or has other health conditions, the recommendation may change. There are also triglycerides, which is another type of fat in the bloodstream, that are also tied to heart disease.
For LDL-cholesterol, the general principle is that the "lower is better. Learn more. If you think you might have FH, talk to your doctor or connect with doctor who specializes in FH and other lipid disorders through our FH Specialist Map. LDL cholesterol is known as "bad" cholesterol because it does just the opposite, building up in the walls of your blood vessels. When cholesterol-based material, or plaque, builds up along your arteries, it clogs them and can lead to blockages.
Blockages in arteries supplying blood to the heart can cause heart attacks; blockages in arteries that supply blood to the brain can cause strokes. Blockages in your legs can cause leg pain and difficulty walking. It's important to your health to know your cholesterol levels and if you're at risk for high cholesterol. The AHA recommends that once you reach the age of 20, you have your cholesterol level tested every five years. Milani says. However, if your numbers are higher than they should be, you probably need to be tested annually.
Also, if you're being treated for high cholesterol, you may need to be tested more often to be sure your treatment is working, Milani says. You also may be tested more frequently if you have risk factors for heart disease, such as if you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, if you're overweight, or if you smoke.
You should fast for 9 to 12 hours before having the fasting lipoprotein profile, a simple blood test that can tell you your cholesterol numbers. A deciliter is one-tenth of a liter, or about 3. Your cholesterol report includes a few readings.
0コメント