What Makes My LDL Cholesterol High and What Can I Do About It?
When you discover that your LDL cholesterol level is high, many of us are inquisitive about how it got to that high level and then they ask, how to lower it.
The major reasons for a high LDL cholesterol level are: high blood pressure (more than 140/90 mmHg) or those on high blood pressure medication, a family history of early heart disease or of parents or siblings with high cholesterol levels (LDL), men who are 45 years of age or older and women who are 55 years of age and older, and those individuals who smoke tobacco products.
Conditions such as being obese and leading a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to higher levels of LDL cholesterol they are not major risk factors.
Individuals who have 2 or more of the major risk factors for high cholesterol need to closely monitor and reduce their cholesterol levels in order to reduce their risk for heart disease.
Your doctor will take into account your blood cholesterol levels (Total Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and your triglyceride level), your present health including any diseases or conditions, your risk factor for heart disease, your age and your gender into consideration when advising you concerning your cholesterol level and how concerned you should be.
Having heart disease or diabetes or a risk score more than 20% would put you in the high-risk category. Having 2 or more risk factors and a risk score of 10% to 20% puts you in the next to highest risk category. Having 2 or more risk factors and a risk score of 10% to 20% puts you in the next highest risk category. Having 2 or more risk factors and a risk score of less than 10% puts you in the moderate risk category and if you have a 0 or 1 risk identified in the above list of risk factors than you are in the low to moderate risk category. Your doctor can help you to determine your risk factors and your risk percentage.
Your doctor will give you a cholesterol level goal to strive for that is determined by what category of risk you fall into.
In order to reduce your risk for a high level of LDL blood cholesterol you need to do all you can to control the risks that are in your ability to control like your high blood pressure, your lifestyle habits such as smoking or not, your diet, your weight and your activity level.
If your doctor prescribes medication to help you to lower your LDL cholesterol level, you will still need to make every effort to make necessary lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact on your cholesterol level and thus your risk for heart disease.
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