What should I expect from cholesterol control?

Cholesterol control is a means of evaluating the blood test of the risk of heart disease and cholesterol levels. Tests are usually performed every five years for men over 45 years of age and for women over 55 years. They can be carried out more often on people who already have heart disease, have high blood pressure, are obese, smokers or who have a family history with high cholesterol or heart disease. Often, if there is no known heart disease problem, doctors mount this blood test during routine physical tests. The test usually requires fasting for twelve hours before, but anyone who has a test should ask doctors or laboratories if there are other requirements. Sometimes further blood work is performed simultaneously and other necessary steps may be before performing blood tests.

In the cholesterol test, some basic things are measured. These are high density and low density lipoproteins, total cholesterol scores and Triglycer levelsidy. Many people will receive their score in e -mail for several days or weeks after testing and the doctor who orders cholesterol control will also get this information.

Each separate measurement will show the number and doctors use these numbers to assess the risk of heart disease. People generally want to see a high number of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and low low density lipoproteins (LDL). These are "good" and "bad" numbers of cholesterol, which are often discussed. The overall score of cholesterol is also an important measurement and the level of triglycerides is also valuable.

It's hard to say what numbers mean for each individual. There are tables that indicate which numbers are poor and good and that are borderline or dangerous. Generally, doctors seek for certain desirable levels and include the total score of cholesterol below 200. LDL below 70 are optimal, but the score up to 129 can be consideredEspecially optimal for people who do not have heart disease. HDL levels are best when they are 60 or higher. The numbers on triglycerides are desirable when they are 150 or lower.

patients with cholesterol measurement by number should be careful. Family history and other risk factors of heart disease may mean a certain score, although they fall into the optimal or desirable scope are not suitable. Due to the medical history, doctors are qualified in determining whether different cholesterol check numbers should be higher or lower.

If cholesterol control values ​​are not in optimal or desirable extent, doctors can plan subsequent monitoring with patients to work with them on ways to solve this problem. This may include simple dietary changes or behavior with re -checks for a period. When levels expose people to extreme risks may have to prescribe medicines to be under control.