High Cholesterol / Lipid Disorder Disease Management

Your healthcare professional may want to check your total cholesterol level more frequently and may also want you to check your LDL cholesterol level. Know Your Numbers Adults age 20 and over should have their total and HDL blood cholesterol tested every five years. Total Cholesterol Level Your total blood cholesterol is a combination of LDL level, HDL level, and triglyceride level. Total blood cholesterol is an important number to know. Ask your healthcare professional to tell you your cholesterol levels. Discuss your LDL target level with your healthcare professional. LDL Cholesterol Level Lowering elevated LDL prevents heart attacks and saves lives. LDL cholesterol is one of the most important measures for risk of heart disease. Your healthcare professional will likely use your LDL as the starting point for your treatment plan. The higher your level of LDL cholesterol, the greater your risk for coronary heart disease. For people without coronary heart disease a desirable LDL is below 130 mg/dL.

What are your risk factors?

I am male 45 years or older. I have a family history of early heart disease (parent or sibling younger than 55 if male; younger than 65 if female). I am female 55 years or older. I have high blood pressure. I am female under age 55 with premature menopause without estrogen replacement therapy. I have diabetes. I smoke. I have lof LDL (less than 35 mg/dL). If you have an HDL of 60 mg/dL or greater, subtract one risk factor

What are your risk factors?

Number of Risk Factors Target LDL Less than two risk factors and no coronary heart disease .....below 160 mg/dL Two or more risk factors and no coronary heart disease .....below 130 mg/dL Coronary Heart Disease (prior heart attack, angioplasty, or bypass surgery) regardless of other risk factors .....at or below 100 mg/dL