Why Early Cholesterol Tests Are Important?

There is a rising trend of heart ailments in people below the age of 40. While this is usually the age when you are more likely to be focused on your career and finances, it has become even more important to focus on your heart health too. Read on to find out when you should start checking your cholesterol levels regularly to get a clearer idea about your heart health.

What You Should Know:

• What does a cholesterol test measure?
• When you should start cholesterol tests?
• What are the risk factors for high blood cholesterol levels?

What does a cholesterol test measure?

A cholesterol test is just a regular blood test that you can get done from a professional laboratory. The lipid profile in your blood test will give you details about four types of cholesterol.

• HDL (High-density lipoprotein): It is also known as good cholesterol and its ideal level should be above 60 mg/dl
• LDL (Low-density lipoprotein): This is known as bad cholesterol, and your LDL level should always be lower than 100 mg/dl
• Triglycerides: This is a type of fat molecule in your blood and its ideal level should be below 150 mg/dl.
• Total cholesterol: Your ideal total cholesterol levels should be below 200 mg/dl.

Alternatively, if you have tested your blood cholesterol levels, you can enter your total cholesterol levels in our Cholesterol Calculator. It considers your age, gender and ethnicity along with your cholesterol levels to understand if your cholesterol levels are in control or not.

When should you start cholesterol tests?

On an average, Indians today tend to suffer from cardiac arrests at least 20 years earlier when compared to some western countries. This is why it is important to start checking blood cholesterol levels early on in life even in children and teenagers if needed.

Ideally, cholesterol tests should be done every 5 years after the age of 20. After the age of 40 cholesterol tests should be done every year.

If you are diagnosed with any of the cardiovascular disease risk factors, you should get your cholesterol levels checked at least once every 2-3 years after the age of 20.

What are the risk factors for high blood cholesterol levels?

It is important to know if your body is at a greater risk of having high blood cholesterol. This can help you understand how much you need to take care of your heart health. Here are some common risk factors associated with high cholesterol.

• Family history of heart disease:

If you have a history of high cholesterol and heart ailments in the family there is an increased likelihood that it can affect you too. In some cases, a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia can lead to high levels of bad cholesterol or LDL at a young age.

• Sedentary lifestyle:

If you lead a lifestyle with minimal physical activity along with stress. It can increase your cholesterol levels. A diet of high carbohydrates with sugary drinks or alcohol will not only increase your cholesterol levels but also put your heart at risk through uncontrolled weight gain.

• Age and gender:

As you age it can become more difficult to control your cholesterol levels. Men tend to have higher cholesterol levels when compared to women. However, after menopause the levels of bad cholesterol or LDL in women increases.

If you want to control your cholesterol levels, you should consider these lifestyle changes to naturally lower your blood cholesterol. For more fitness or nutrition related advice, visit the Activ Living Community.