Exploring Cholesterol Levels: Normal Ranges

Exploring Cholesterol Levels: Normal Ranges

Cholesterol levels are very important when it comes to the overall health of an individual. When you have an abnormally high cholesterol level, you are increasing the opportunity for the development of heart disease, experiencing a heart attack, and even experiencing a stroke. Here, we will explore cholesterol levels: normal ranges. If you experience an issue with cholesterol, it is imperative that you study the information contained here and do your best to gain an understanding of it.

When visiting a doctor to determine your cholesterol levels, you will undergo a full examination. The doctor will inquire about your personal health history and the health history of your family as well. Furthermore, your doctor may check to determine if you suffer from the effects of high blood pressure, and will inquire about your age. You will also be asked about any lifestyle choices, such as consuming alcohol, smoking, and similar activities. Your weight level will also be considered.

Individuals that have exceeded the age of at least twenty years old should have a cholesterol screening conducted to determine cholesterol levels. This type of screening should be done at least once every five years, if possible. However, many doctors will recommend that it is done every other year, depending on the risk factors that are relevant to the individual that is being tested. Individuals who suffer from high cholesterol levels will not experience any types of symptoms. The only way to determine cholesterol levels is to have a screening done.

The doctor who tests your cholesterol levels will perform a blood test, which is referred to as a “lipoprotein profile”. This blood test concludes a number of different facts regarding your cholesterol levels. These facts include the amount of good cholesterol in the body, the amount of bad cholesterol in the body, the amount of triglycerides in the body, as well as a total cholesterol count. This will properly conclude whether there is an issue concerning the amount of cholesterol in the blood or not.

There are other activities that will be performed when determining the cholesterol levels in the body as well. These activities include:

• The doctor will do a full body physical on you

• Detailed information regarding your medical history will be compiled in order to properly access your health risks for high cholesterol levels

• The doctor may test your blood pressure a few times throughout the appointment in order to determine whether or not there is a possibility that the blood pressure is too high

• The heart rate is often calculated during a cholesterol screening

• Your family medical history may be discussed in order to determine if you have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol

It is important for levels of “bad” cholesterol to be low. If they are not low, then plaque can build up on the inner walls of the arteries and result in heart disease. The following represents that standard table that is normally used to conclude cholesterol levels in the body:

• 100 or less indicates an outstanding level of “bad” cholesterol

• Cholesterol levels that are between that of 100 and 129 are considered to still be normal, but nearing borderline levels

• 130 to 159 is considered to be “borderline” or “borderline high”

• 160 to about 189 is considered to be a high cholesterol level in an individual

• Cholesterol levels that are 190 or higher are considered to be extremely high

In order to determine if your cholesterol levels are normal range, it is important to have a cholesterol screening done as soon as possible. If you are found to experience abnormal cholesterol levels, your doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment method for the condition.