By going to the doctor and getting a simple blood test done to check your cholesterol, you can find out what your levels of cholesterol are. When you go to get your cholesterol checked, they’ll check all the levels of your cholesterol. Your test will come back showing the levels of your cholesterol and what they could mean for your health. Your doctor will also take the information about your age, family history, smoking and your blood pressure into account.

The levels of cholesterol checked by the test will be your total blood cholesterol level, your HDL cholesterol level, your LDL cholesterol level and your triglyceride level. These are all very important levels of your cholesterol and each one means something different for you. This information will tell your doctor what your risk of heart disease may be based on your cholesterol levels and family history.

If you have a total blood cholesterol level less then 200 mg this is good level and will put you at a low risk for heart disease. If it’s above 200 mg, you’re considered to be borderline high risk. Your doctor will probably recommend that you change your lifestyle to lower your blood cholesterol level and request that you have your cholesterol checked more often. If it’s over 240 mg, then you are at high risk and your doctor will want to put you on a treatment plan and probably prescribe medication to help you lower it.

If your HDL cholesterol level is higher, then this is good. Low HDL levels can also put you at a high risk for heart disease and other problems. If your LDL cholesterol level is low then that’s good, too, as this will help to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

If your triglyceride level is high, this could mean that you have a high total cholesterol level. People can have a high triglyceride level because they’re overweight, smoke cigarettes, are inactive and drink too much alcohol. These levels can mean different things for you, so you must go to your doctor to get the treatment that is best for your cholesterol levels.

There are certain risk factors for people who have high cholesterol. About fifty percent of all adults have found out that they have cholesterol levels over 200. A big portion of adults have unhealthy levels of cholesterol.

Younger adults are starting to get high cholesterol levels because of their diets of high fat and low fiber. Also, the way they live, in other words their lifestyle, can play a part in it. The levels of cholesterol over all have been some what declining over the years due to medications that have been prescribed by doctors to lower your cholesterol.

Your risk factor can be different depending on if you are a man or a women. The major cause of death in men is heart disease. Men have been known to develop heart disease earlier than women do and are at a greater risk. Through studies it has been suggested that high cholesterol can contribute to high blood pressure in men.

In women, coronary artery disease is the number one killer. At certain times in a women’s life she may have higher cholesterol levels then a man does. In her twenties and early thirties and also after menopause her cholesterol levels may be higher.

There is some evidence which suggests that the HDL levels are higher in women then they are in men. Children can also have high cholesterol levels, however, the cause of this is not really known. Some people think being overweight can make children run a higher risk and having unhealthy cholesterol levels can play a part in the weight issue, too.

Being obese or overweight can have certain risk factors with regard to high cholesterol. People who are overweight tend to have high triglyceride levels and low HDL levels. This can be a risk factor for heart disease and other conditions such as high blood pressure.

Family history can also play a part in high cholesterol. Genetics can sometimes determine if you’ll have a high cholesterol level yourself. People with a history of heart disease in their family should have their cholesterol levels checked regularly. You don’t have to risk your health, visit your doctor and find out if your chances of getting high cholesterol are going to be greater.