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Please note: This information was as
current as we could make it on the date given above. But medical information is
always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For
regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit
familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient
education Web site. |
An article on this
topic is available in this issue of AFP.
What Should I Know About Cholesterol?
Why should I be concerned about my cholesterol level?
Heart attacks and strokes are the number one cause of death in the United States. Having high cholesterol levels puts you at greater risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Your risk also is higher if you:
• Smoke
• Do not exercise
• Are a man older than 45 years or a woman older than 55 years
• Have high levels of "bad" cholesterol or LDL (short for "low-density lipoproteins" [say: lip-oh-pro-teens])
• Have low levels of "good" cholesterol or HDL (short for "high-density lipoproteins")
• Have diabetes
• Have high blood pressure (140 over 90 or higher)
• Have a parent, grandparent, brother, or sister who had heart disease before age 60
• Have a body mass index (also called BMI) of at least 30. Ask your doctor if you don't know your BMI.
When should my cholesterol levels be checked?
Your doctor will decide how often you should be checked, based on your age and risk factors.
What should my cholesterol level be?
Your best cholesterol level depends on other risk factors you may have for heart disease. Your doctor will use your LDL level to decide if you need to take medicine. The more risk factors you have for heart disease, the lower your LDL level should be. If you already have heart disease or diabetes, your LDL level should be less than 100 mg per dL. Even if you don't have heart disease, it is good to get your LDL level as low as you can.
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If your LDL level is: |
Your risk rating is: |
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Less than 100 mg per dL* |
Best |
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100 to 129 mg per dL |
Near best |
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130 to 159 mg per dL |
Almost high |
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160 mg per dL and above |
High |
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*-Optional goal is less than 70 mg per dL. |
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Can I prevent heart disease?
A healthy lifestyle will lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit. Daily exercise and a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet also help lower your risk. The Mediterranean diet may lower your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems. The Mediterranean diet is made up of:
• Moderate portions of fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, beans, nuts, and seeds
• Olive oil as the main source of fat
• Small amounts of dairy products, fish, and poultry, and almost no red meat or eggs
• Wine in low to moderate amounts.
Portion sizes are different for everyone. Ask your doctor how much food and wine make up one serving for you.
Medicines that lower your cholesterol levels can help keep you from having a heart attack or stroke. Some herbal medicines such as garlic, fiber, red yeast rice, soy, artichoke, and fenugreek may help lower your cholesterol levels. But they have not been shown to lower your risk of having a heart attack.
Where can I find more information about high cholesterol levels?
• Your doctor
• American
Heart Association
Web site:
http://www.americanheart.org
• National
Cholesterol Education Program
Web site:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncep/
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Date: ______ My cholesterol level is: Total: ______ LDL _______ HDL ______ |
| This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor. Visit familydoctor.org for information on this and many other health-related topics. Copyright © 2005 by the American
Academy of Family Physicians. |
