cholesterol & triglycerides
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To keep better track of your cholesterol levels, all adults age 20 or older should have a fasting lipoprotein profile once every five years.¹
This measures:
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Total cholesterol
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LDL (bad) cholesterol
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HDL (good) cholesterol
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Triglycerides
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This test is done by taking blood after a 9 to 12-hour time span without any food or liquids other than water. Certain medications should be avoided as well, but you should never stop taking medicine without talking to your doctor first.
You may need to have your cholesterol checked more often than every five years if one or more of the following apply to you:
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Your total cholesterol is 200mg/dl or more
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You are a man over 45 or a woman over 50
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Your HDL (good) is less than 40 mg/dl
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You have other risk factors
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Total Cholesterol Level
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Category
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Less than 200 mg/dL |
Desirable level that puts you at lower risk for heart disease |
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200 to 239 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
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240 mg/dL and above |
High blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of coronary heart disease as someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL. |
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HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level
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Category
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Less than 40 mg/dL (for men)
Less than 50 mg/dL (for women) |
Low HDL cholesterol. A major risk factor for heart disease. |
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60 mg/dL and above |
High HDL cholesterol. An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is thought to protect you against heart disease. |
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LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level
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Category
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Less than 100 mg/dL |
Optimal |
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100 to 129 mg/dL |
Near optimal |
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130 to 159 mg/dL |
Borderline high. This level and those above are considered a major risk factor for heart disease. |
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160 to 189 mg/dL |
High |
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190 mg/dL and above |
Very high |
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Triglyceride Level
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Category
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Less than 150 mg/dL |
Normal |
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150 to 199 mg/dL |
Borderline high. This level and those above are considered a contributing risk factor for heart disease. |
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200 to 499 mg/dL |
High |
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500 mg/dL and above |
Very high |
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¹The American Heart Association, What Cholesterol Levels Mean
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