![]() ![]() Talk to your provider about which one is right for you. The medicines work in different ways and can have different side effects. There are several types of cholesterol-lowering drugs available, including statins. If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your LDL level enough, you may also need to take medicines. Everyone should get regular physical activity. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your LDL level. Examples of eating plans that can lower your LDL level include the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet and the DASH eating plan. A heart-healthy eating plan limits the amount of saturated and trans fats that you eat. Heart-healthy lifestyle changes, which include:.There are two main ways to lower your LDL cholesterol level: ![]() ![]() If you have coronary artery disease or are at high risk for it, your health care provider may have different goals for your LDL level. The general ranges for healthy adults are: LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level With LDL cholesterol, lower numbers are better, because a high LDL level can raise your risk for coronary artery disease and related problems. Asian Americans are more likely to have higher LDL levels than other groups. For example, African Americans typically have higher HDL and LDL cholesterol levels than White Americans. People from certain racial or ethnic groups may have an increased risk of high blood cholesterol. Diseases such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and HIV can cause a higher LDL level. Certain medicines, including steroids, some blood pressure medicines, and HIV medicines, can raise your LDL level. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of high blood cholesterol. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. After the age of menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise. Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. As women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Since HDL helps to remove LDL from your arteries, if you have less HDL, that can contribute to you having a higher LDL level. Cigarette smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol. A lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain, which can raise your LDL level Being overweight tends to raise your LDL level, lower your HDL level, and increase your total cholesterol level Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your LDL level rise Things that can affect your LDL level include: You may need to get your cholesterol checked more often if you have heart disease, diabetes, or a family history of high cholesterol. Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years.Younger adults should have the test every 5 years.Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke.Children should have the test again every 5 years.The first test should be between ages 9 to 11.When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. How do I know what my LDL level is?Ī blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including LDL. This can cause angina (chest pain), or if the blood flow is completely blocked, a heart attack. Because your blood carries oxygen to your heart, this means that your heart may not be able to get enough oxygen. It causes the arteries to become hardened and narrowed, which slows down or blocks the blood flow to your heart. The plaque builds up in your arteries this is a condition called atherosclerosis.Ĭoronary artery disease happens when the plaque buildup is in the arteries of your heart. This extra LDL, along with other substances, forms plaque. If you have a high LDL level, this means that you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood. How can a high LDL level raise my risk of coronary artery disease and other diseases? Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins.It is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins.The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so they can move through the blood. They are a combination of fat (lipid) and protein. LDL and HDL are two types of lipoproteins. But having too much cholesterol in your blood raises your risk of coronary artery disease. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. Your liver makes cholesterol, and it is also in some foods, such as meat and dairy products. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. ![]()
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