Cholesterol: The Good and The Bad
posted by Lehi Willowcreek Family Medicine | July 31, 2017
There are different kinds of these lipoproteins, some are referred to as “good” and others as “bad”—bad cholesterol can have a major effect on heart health.
When doctors check for cholesterol in the body, they’ll generally tabulate four specific measures:
A simple blood test, called a lipid profile, can be done to check cholesterol levels. It measures several kinds of total cholesterol and individual parts, including triglycerides. Certain other blood tests only check for total and HDL cholesterol.
These checks are vital, in part because there are no symptoms or outward signs of high LDL cholesterol. In general, frequency with which you should be monitored for cholesterol levels goes like this:
There are a few broad risk factor areas that increase your chances of having high cholesterol:
Regardless of your age or other risk factors, you can take steps to keep cholesterol in the right range and prevent or manage your levels. Here are a few general areas to keep in mind:
“Cholesterol.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about.htm
“HDL (Good), LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and Triglycerides.” American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/HDLLDLTriglycerides/HDL-Good-LDL-Bad-Cholesterol-and-Triglycerides_UCM_305561_Article.jsp
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. You should always consult your doctor before making decisions about your health.