Do conversations about cholesterol often overwhelm you? Do you feel like you don’t know enough about this condition to understand why people work towards maintaining their cholesterol levels? Cholesterol is always present in our bodies in varying amounts and types. Its levels vary according to age, gender and weight and it is measured by a lipid profile test. This test helps to assess the levels of different fats – good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol in our body.

Why Is It Important To Control Your Cholesterol Levels?

Excess bad cholesterol and triglycerides coupled with low levels of good cholesterol can lead to fat deposits (plaque) on the walls of blood vessels leading to narrowing and blockage of the arteries. This, in turn, increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.¹ Therefore, all adults should get their cholesterol levels checked from time to time to ensure that they have normal cholesterol levels.

Most people who struggle with cholesterol face difficulty in maintaining a balance between good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Ideally, the total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels should be low in the body and the HDL levels should be in a healthy range to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.²

Cholesterol Level: A Quick Glance

Cholesterol Levels: Do Your Age & Gender Matter?

What are the recommended cholesterol levels concerning your age and gender? Do they matter in understanding what one’s cholesterol levels should be? As already mentioned, cholesterol levels tend to increase with age. This is why doctors ask people to keep levels within the normal cholesterol range right from an early age. Years of unmanaged cholesterol are very tricky to handle and can lead to serious health problems later in life.

Men are typically more likely to have high levels of cholesterol as compared to women of the same age.³ Men’s cholesterol levels generally increase with age, while women show an increase after menopause. But with the increasing impact of stress, junk food and a sedentary lifestyle, healthcare experts suggest a need to keep an eye on lipid profiles from an early age in both genders.

Also, Read About What Causes High Cholesterol Level?

Can one’s cholesterol levels be brought to normal? Can certain medications or diets help to achieve this? Is Cholesterol Management and Treatment Easy?

The good news is that cholesterol can be reduced using the prescribed medications and certain lifestyle changes which include a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight management. A diet low in saturated fats and trans fats and high in fibre is good for lowering cholesterol. Read more on cholesterol diet.

According to doctors, people with deranged levels of cholesterol should monitor their calories and consume just enough to maintain a healthy weight. Stay away from smoking and alcohol. Further, an exercise regimen of 30 minutes every day can go a long way in cholesterol management.⁴

Treatment for deranged cholesterol (dyslipidemia) can include medicines to lower cholesterol levels – some act by reducing its absorption from the diet while other groups of medicines work by reducing its production. Certain vitamin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements can also be helpful. A doctor may use a few or all of the above methods to help a patient maintain normal cholesterol levels and live a healthy life.

Read More: 6 Simple Ways to Reduce Cholesterol

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