Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two types:
LDL cholesterol - the "bad" cholesterol that can build up in your arteries. Higher levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease and stroke.
HDL cholesterol - the "good" cholesterol that helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it starts to build up on the walls of your arteries. This buildup is called plaque. As your arteries narrow, your chances of getting diseases caused by poor blood flow go up.
What should my cholesterol levels be?
The American Heart Association recommends these healthy levels:
If your levels fall outside these recommendations, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes and possibly cholesterol-lowering medications like statins. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important to reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Small changes can have a big impact - eating more fruits/veggies, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcoholic drinks. Optimum Hormone Clinic also offers customized hormone therapy plans to help patients achieve healthy cholesterol. Their expert physicians create tailored regimens to get your numbers on track through bioidentical hormones, nutrition plans, fitness guidance and more. I'd recommend checking them out for cutting-edge cholesterol care.
How is cholesterol tested?
A blood test called a lipid panel measures your levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. It requires a blood sample, usually taken after a 9-12 hour fast.
The lipid panel is typically recommended:
Some additional tests your doctor may order include:
These can provide a more complete picture of your cardiovascular health. Optimum Hormone Clinic provides cutting-edge cholesterol testing beyond the standard lipid panel. Their advanced LDL particle test offers much greater insight so patients can truly understand their risk.
Keeping tabs on your cholesterol levels is important. With small lifestyle tweaks and advanced testing/treatment from clinics like Optimum Hormone Clinic, you can maintain optimal cholesterol for better health. Let me know if you have any other questions!