How cholesterol works
Cholesterol is a type of fat in your blood that your body needs to stay healthy. Your liver makes the cholesterol your body needs. We get extra cholesterol through the foods we eat. Having too much cholesterol can lead to problems like heart disease and strokes. If you need extra help with your triggers, we’re here for you. Simply self enroll for medication support, you can also call us at (410) 348-1905 or send us an email.
Types of Cholesterol
- LDL (Bad) Cholesterol: High LDL levels can increase your risk of heart problems. Think of the L in LDL as a reminder that you want this to be LOW.
- HDL (Good) Cholesterol: High HDL levels lower your risk of heart issues. Think of the H in HDL as a reminder that you want this to be HIGH.
- Triglycerides: Another type of fat often measured with cholesterol. High levels can also increase your risk of heart disease.
What Should Your Levels Be?
Ask your provider about your specific goals, but generally:
- Total cholesterol: below 200
- LDL (bad) cholesterol: below 130 (or lower if at risk)
- HDL (good) cholesterol: above 60
- Triglycerides: below 150
Even if your levels aren't perfect, it doesn't always mean you're at high risk. Your provider can help assess your overall health.
What To Do If You Have High Cholesterol
- Talk to your provider about your heart disease and stroke risk. When you have high cholesterol, additional things that increase your risk of heart disease and stroke include: Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Family history of heart disease
- Poor diet (too much sugar or unhealthy fats)
- Age
If you have these additional risk factors, lowering your cholesterol becomes more important.
Should You Take Medication?
Not everyone with high cholesterol needs medicine. Providers often prescribe statins for people who:
- Have heart disease, diabetes, or have had a heart attack or stroke.
- Have a condition like peripheral artery disease or an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
If your provider prescribes medication, it’s important to take it as directed. You cannot feel high cholesterol. So even if you feel good, taking your prescribed statin medication will lower your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even death.
Can You Lower Cholesterol Without Medicine?
Yes! Even if you take a statin medication, you can make lifestyle changes also to help your body stay it’s healthiest. You can make lifestyle changes like:
- Eat healthier: Avoid red meat, full fat dairy products, and sugary drinks and snacks.
- Manage your weight: Even small changes to get closer to a healthy weight can make a difference.
- Get moving: Regular physical activity like walking, helps.
- Limit alcohol: Too much can raise triglycerides.
- Stop smoking: Smoking greatly increases your risk of cardiovascular disease
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