High Cholesterol - Are you at Risk?

High Cholesterol - Are you at Risk?
 
What is high cholesterol? When I am considered having high cholesterol? This article gives you a brief overview about when a cholesterol level is considered high.

High risk definition
If your total cholesterol level is about 240 or more, it's definitely considered high. You have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, you should have your LDL and HDL cholesterol tested as soon as possible. Ask your primary care physision for advice. Talk to your health insurance. Often they offer additional information, classes, or brochures. Approx. 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels.

Medium to high risk definition
People whose total cholesterol is 200 to 239 mg/dL have medium to high cholesterol.  About a third of American adults belong to this group/ 45-50 percent of American adults have total cholesterol levels below the 200 mg/dL mark. 

Be aware that people who have a total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL.

Have your total and HDL cholesterol rechecked at least once a year if:

1. Your total cholesterol is in the high range.
2. Your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL.
3. You have other risk factors for heart disease.

The use of cholesterol lowering drugs combined with lifestyle changes helps people with very high cholesterol to reduce heart attacks by 34 percent and cardiac deaths by more than 40 percent.