Cholesterol Screening and Management
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if your cholesterol is high is to obtain a simple blood test, a lipid panel.
| Total cholesterol | Less than 150 mg/dL |
| LDL (“bad”) cholesterol | Less than 100 mg/dL (for most) |
| HDL (“good”) cholesterol | Greater than or equal to 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women |
| Triglycerides | Less than 150 mg/dL |
Most adults should have their cholesterol checked at least every 3 to 5 years. People with heart disease, diabetes, or who have a family history of high cholesterol should have their cholesterol checked more often.
High cholesterol can be managed with lifestyle modification. However, for some, medications are needed to control high cholesterol in addition to lifestyle modification.
