National Guidelines for Cholesterol
While cholesterol is needed to maintain good health, high levels of this waxy, fat-like substance can contribute to an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. Guidelines have been created to help people maintain acceptable cholesterol levels.
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Testing
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Testing your cholesterol levels helps determine your risk for developing heart disease or other health conditions. Physicians generally measure total cholesterol levels along with low- and high-density lipoprotein, also called LDL ("bad") and HDL ("good") cholesterol, respectively, and triglycerides.
National Guidelines
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The Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) provides guidelines on maintaining optimal cholesterol levels. According to the third ATP installment, total cholesterol should be 200 mg/dL or less, LDL cholesterol should be 100 mg/dL or less, HDL cholesterol should be 40 mg/dL or less, and triglycerides should be 150 mg/dL or less. The guidelines recommend that adults aged 20 and older have their cholesterol levels checked at least every five years.
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Lowering Cholesterol
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If tests determine you have high cholesterol, ways to improve your health include maintaining a diet low in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol, losing weight, stopping smoking, and controlling high blood pressure or diabetes if you are also diagnosed with these conditions.
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References
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