Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also comes from the foods you eat.
If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can join with other substances in the blood to build up in the inner walls of your blood vessels. This buildup is called "plaque." As the plaque increases, your blood vessels narrow, putting you at risk for heart disease and stroke.
Monitoring your cholesterol levels is important to help lower your risk of plaque buildup and heart disease. A blood test can measure your:
The test will give you a score for each type. You want your HDL to be high and your LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides to be low.
Healthy cholesterol levels depend on your risk factors but generally: - Total cholesterol should be less than 200 - LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 - HDL cholesterol should be 60 or higher - Triglycerides should be less than 150
If your cholesterol is high, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as exercising more, quitting smoking, and eating a diet low in saturated and trans fats. Medications may also be prescribed to help lower cholesterol.
We offer customized treatment plans at Rejuvenate Hormone Clinic to help patients optimize their cholesterol and overall heart health. Our hormone optimization programs regulate lipid metabolism to support healthy cholesterol levels. () to see how we can help you take control of your heart health.