Cholesterol and Wellness


Cholesterol Levels Matter
Blood cholesterol levels can indicate your chances of getting heart disease, because high blood cholesterol is known to be a major risk factor for heart disease. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the more likely you are to develop this condition and/or have a heart attack. This happens because an excess of cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries, causing them to narrow. The cholesterol buildup then results in causing the blood flow to the heart to become slowed and abnormal.

High blood cholesterol alone does not cause symptoms, so it is critical that you have your cholesterol levels checked by a professional. If you have your cholesterol numbers, you can input them, and your cholesterol number goal, in the Cholesterol Tracker. This can also be found in Your Health Menu, titled "Cholesterol."

Lowering high cholesterol levels lessens your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. It is recommended that anyone aged 20 or older should have their cholesterol levels check at least once every five years.

Understanding the Numbers

If your total cholesterol level is:

less than 200 mg/dL, then you have a desirable level of cholesterol.

between 200-239 mg/dL, then you have a borderline high level of cholesterol

240 mg/dL and above, then you have a high level of cholesterol

Controlling Your Cholesterol
There are a few things that affect your cholesterol levels that you have control over. These include:

Diet: Saturated fat and cholesterol in food can make cholesterol levels rise. Limiting these from your diet can improve your cholesterol levels. Click here to learn more about healthy eating.

Weight: Being overweight may increase your cholesterol. Losing excess weight may help lower your total cholesterol levels. You can read about maintaining a healthy weight by clicking here.

Physical Activity: Being physically active on a regular basis can decrease your bad cholesterol and increase your good cholesterol. Read about getting active here.