High cholesterol: how to read your results and what you can do
What LDL, HDL and triglycerides mean, how often to get tested, what raises cholesterol and which changes help lower it, according to the CDC.
Your lab results arrive and you see four numbers with strange names. One is flagged in red. Is it serious? Do you need to take something? This guide helps you get to your visit knowing what you are looking at.
What cholesterol is
It is a waxy, fat-like substance made by your liver. The body needs it, for example to make hormones and digest fats, and it makes all it needs on its own. The problem starts when there is too much in the blood: plaque builds up in the arteries, which narrow and can block blood flow. That raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States.
According to the CDC, about 86 million adults in the country have total cholesterol above 200 mg/dL.
How to read your results
The test is called a lipid panel, and it measures four things. These are the optimal levels the CDC publish:
| Measure | What it is | Optimal level |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | The overall figure | About 150 mg/dL |
| LDL | ”Bad” cholesterol | About 100 mg/dL |
| HDL | ”Good” cholesterol | At least 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women |
| Triglycerides | A fat the body uses for energy | Under 150 mg/dL |
A number outside this table is not a diagnosis on its own. Your doctor reads it together with your age, your blood pressure, whether you smoke, whether you have diabetes and your family history.
How often to get tested
The CDC note that the only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get it checked, and they recommend:
- Healthy adults: every 4 to 6 years.
- With heart disease, diabetes or a family history of high cholesterol: more often.
- Children: at least once between ages 9 and 11, and again between 17 and 21.
You may be asked to fast for 8 to 12 hours beforehand. Ask your doctor how to prepare.
What raises it
Type 2 diabetes, obesity, a diet high in saturated and trans fats, and not enough physical activity. Age and family history count too, and those cannot be changed. The others can.
What helps lower it
- Food: less saturated fat, which comes from animal products and tropical oils. More lean protein, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fiber, such as oatmeal and beans. Avocados, vegetable oils and nuts provide unsaturated fats, which may help lower LDL.
- Movement: 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise.
- Weight: being overweight raises LDL and makes it harder for the body to clear it.
- Tobacco: smoking damages blood vessels and speeds up the hardening of the arteries. Quitting lowers your risk.
- Alcohol: no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women. Drinking too much can raise cholesterol and triglycerides.
If these changes are not enough, or if your risk is high, your doctor may talk with you about medication.
How we handle it at the clinic
At our family medicine clinic we order the test, explain each number and follow your cholesterol together with your blood pressure and diabetes, with labs and medication adjustments when needed. All in English or Spanish.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Cholesterol.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Testing for Cholesterol.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing High Cholesterol.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). High Cholesterol Facts.
This article is general information about our clinic and about cholesterol. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation with a professional. Do not change or stop your medications without talking to your doctor. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or trouble speaking, call 911.