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.

Unfortunately, there are usually no symptoms to reveal that you’re getting high cholesterol. That’s the scary part, not knowing. You will not even know you have high cholesterol unless you go to a doctor and have it checked.

When symptoms do reveal themselves, it may be too late because the symptoms are usually angina, a heart attack or a stroke resulting from the plaque that has built up in your arteries. That’s why it’s so important to go to your doctor regularly and have your cholesterol levels checked. You may need to change your lifestyle and begin taking better care of yourself, or your doctor may put you on medication if your cholesterol levels are severe.

To diagnosis high cholesterol, you’ll need to go to your doctor and get a blood test. To get a reliable reading of your cholesterol, your doctor may ask you to not eat or drink anything for up to twelve hours before you get tested. He may also ask you to avoid exercising for up to twenty-four hours before your test.

If the test is inaccurate he will require you to take a second test. However, you may have to wait a while before taking the second test. There are home tests you can get and check your cholesterol but they may not be as complete and accurate as the one your doctor would give.

There is a new test that’s able to check the cholesterol levels in your skin. This test can also determine your risk of heart disease if you have high levels of cholesterol in your skin. You should start having your cholesterol levels checked by age twenty and have it checked again at least every five years if you have normal cholesterol.

If you’re an adult who has risk factors, you should go and get your cholesterol checked every two years or more often. If your parents have high cholesterol or heart disease, this can also indicate a risk factor for you so you’ll need to have your cholesterol checked more often.