how often should we test our cholesterol?
June 17, 2010 by admin
Filed under cholesterol fact
According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, for adults’ age over 20 years old and above should go for cholesterol test for their HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides level at least once in 5 years.
However, if you are belongs to below groups you should check more often, suggested once a year at least.
- Your total cholesterol is 200mg/dL or above
- For man over 45 years old and woman over 50 years old
- Your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL
- You are overweight
- You have any other risk factors like heart disease, stroke, etc.
Where you can get your cholesterol check?
Nowadays, it is easier to get your cholesterol check in nearby clinic that offers blood test. Normally, the doctors will not just do the blood test, they will also interview about your family history, smoking history, or any other disease that you have.
Once you got your cholesterol numbers, you should start a plan to lower your cholesterol if the numbers is over 200 mg/dL. If your cholesterol number is within the limit, please always keep to your present healthy life style and always keep to low cholesterol diet.
Never overlook this cholesterol test, because with early detection of high cholesterol numbers will help you to start to control and prevent further risk of getting heart disease.
As we get older we tend to experience certain health conditions that some may consider as part of the aging process, like having high cholesterol. Getting the right food, exercise and knowing the ways to lower your cholesterol naturally brings a lot of advantages to prevent or at least control them.