In humans, cholesterol in proper amounts is needed for a healthy body. In fact, your body uses cholesterol to manufacture body chemicals that are critical for maintaining good health. Excessively high cholesterol levels can be dangerous and even create long term cardiovascular problems.

When do you accept that medicine may be needed to maintain your cholesterol level chart?

Before committing to a doctor prescribed medication to reduce your cholesterol levels, several baseline factors need to be tested. Initially, your doctor will calculate the levels of cholesterol and fats in your blood. A simple blood test can calculate the levels of both cholesterol types found in humans: LDL or BAD cholesterol including triglycerides or HDL considered good cholesterol which defends against heart disease by removing the dangerous LDL from our circulatory network.

A physician will study your risk of heart disease and decide whether to prescribe high cholesterol medication as a solution for your problem. To make a proper diagnosis, they must consider all of these areas:

Age and Gender – cholesterol levels worsen as both men and women mature. Women must keep an eye on LDL cholesterol levels which usually increase after age 50, specifically after menopause. Of course, each person is an individual and our bodies react differently to aging. If a woman starts early menopause she should check her cholesterol levels on a regular basis to be aware of any developing problems.

Weight – the probability of heart disease is magnified by being too heavy. For most people who lose weight, bad LDL cholesterol numbers will be lowered. Good HDL cholesterol levels usually rise simultaneously which moderates your risk of a heart attack. In addition, triglyceride levels will also start to drop as you lose weight. When you are overweight, your cholesterol levels become imbalanced. Losing weight is critical in your efforts to control cholesterol. Once again, obesity and elevated cholesterol substantially increase the risks of suffering from cardiovascular disease (as well as contributing to high blood pressure which further strains the heart).

Heredity – It has been noticed that cholesterol problems are often found in family trees. Be sure and indicate any genetic connections to your primary health care provider. Also, remember that the medications that helped lower the cholesterol levels in your family members may also work for you.

Physical Activity – Regular exercise impacts your LDL cholesterol levels and helps maintain a healthy weight which raises HDL levels and reduces triglycerides. As little as thirty minutes daily will improve your cholesterol numbers. Exercise triggers a biochemical change that decreases LDL and raises HDL.

Diet – daily food intake has a powerful impact on cholesterol. If you are eating high cholesterol foods choices that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, you can expect unhealthy cholesterol levels. Since the primary factor is saturated fat, it is advised that you decrease the amount of saturated fat in your diet. For high LDL levels, your doctor may prescribe a low cholesterol diet for six months and follow the resulting changes. Change the type of foods you eat and concentrate on reducing high cholesterol content. Instead of eating highly saturated fatty foods, switch to a low cholesterol meal plan that has less unsaturated fats.