Cholesterol is a viscous liquid that is present in our blood. It is transported by blood plasma. There are 2 types of cholesterol in our body. The first is Low Density Lipoprotein ie HDL, also called Good Cholesterol and the second is Bad Cholesterol, which is also called Bad Cholesterol. The bad cholesterol that is there can get deposited in the arteries, which increases the risk of many dangerous diseases. Often people do not know how much their cholesterol level is needed and after how long they should keep getting checked
Cholesterol Levels of People 19 or Under
Total cholesterol - less than 170 mg/dL
LDL- less than 100 mg/dL
HDL- over 45 mg/dL
Cholesterol Levels for Men of 20 or More
Total cholesterol - 125 to 200 mg/dL
Non-HDL - less than 130 mg/dL
LDL- less than 100 mg/dL
HDL - 40 mg/dL or higher
Cholesterol Level of Women in their 20s or more
Total cholesterol - 125 to 200 mg/dL
Non-HDL - less than 130 mg/dL
LDL- less than 100 mg/dL
HDL - 50 mg/dL or more
How often should the cholesterol level be checked?
How often you should get your cholesterol level checked depends on your age, your medical history and your family history. If a person has problems like stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol, then they should get their cholesterol level checked every 6 months or once in a year. Let us know when and how often you should check your cholesterol level according to age.
1. People 19 or younger should have their first cholesterol test at the age of 9 to 11 years. After that get the test done once in every 5 years. Children who have a family history of the disease should have their first cholesterol level test at the age of 2.
2. People between the age group of 20 to 44 years should get their cholesterol level checked once in every 5 years. Women in the age group of 45 to 54 years should get their cholesterol level checked once every 5 years. Men between the ages of 45 and 65 should have their cholesterol level checked every 1-2 years. Whereas women aged 55-65 years should get their cholesterol level checked every 1-2 years.
