Nearly 100 million American adults have high cholesterol, yet many don’t realize it because there often aren’t obvious symptoms. Getting your cholesterol checked is important to understand your heart health risk and take steps to prevent problems if needed.
Read on to learn why getting cholesterol checked matters for everyone.
High Cholesterol Has No Signs
High cholesterol does not cause any visible signs or symptoms you can detect on your own. You can have elevated cholesterol levels without realizing it, even if you feel perfectly healthy.
That’s because factors such as genetics, diet, weight, and activity levels all impact cholesterol. Since high cholesterol builds up slowly over time, getting tested is the only way to know if yours falls into the unhealthy range.
Checking Cholesterol Is the Only Way to Know Your Levels
A simple blood test is the only way to determine your cholesterol levels. When you get your blood drawn, it can be analyzed to give you the numbers for total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Your doctor can then assess these numbers based on standards for ideal levels. There aren’t any at-home tests that give as complete and accurate a picture as a lipid profile blood screening. For this reason, getting your cholesterol professionally checked is the best approach.
High Cholesterol Puts You At Risk for Heart Disease
It is imperative for everyone to find out their cholesterol levels because high cholesterol significantly raises your risk of developing heart disease.
Heart disease is among the main causes of death for both men and women in America, with approximately 695,000 Americans dying from heart disease in 2021 alone.
High cholesterol levels cause a waxy substance called plaque to build up in your arteries over time. This plaque narrows the arteries, making it more challenging for blood to flow through them effectively.
Eventually, it can completely block blood flow, leading to a heart attack. Checking your cholesterol gives you the chance to take action to prevent this.
Knowing Early Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
In addition to increasing the risk for heart disease, unhealthy cholesterol levels can also raise your odds of having a stroke. Stroke is the number five leading cause of death in the U.S.
When plaque blocks arteries leading to the brain, it triggers a stroke. As with heart disease, stroke risk rises as you age. But if caught early, through a simple cholesterol test, you can change your lifestyle and reduce the likelihood of a serious medical event.
Even if you feel healthy and fit now, getting your cholesterol checked establishes a baseline that allows you to make healthy modifications at the first sign of trouble. Experiencing health issues later on becomes less likely with this proactive approach in your younger years.
Who Needs Their Cholesterol Checked?
Previously, medical experts only recommended regular cholesterol screenings for those over a certain age or with additional risk factors. However, research now shows that everyone needs to get their cholesterol levels checked, starting at a young age. Here’s a breakdown:
- Adults — All adults should have a cholesterol test at least once every four to six years. More frequent testing may be needed for those with high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, or other issues.
- Children and adolescents — The latest guidelines advise that all children undergo an initial cholesterol screening between ages 9 and 11. Teens should have another test between ages 17 and 21. Kids who have obesity or diabetes require cholesterol checks more often.
- Seniors — Once a person reaches age 65, yearly cholesterol testing is recommended since risk increases with age. But again, don’t wait until then. Get tested earlier and repeat as directed by your physician.
What Does a Cholesterol Check Involve?
The process of getting your cholesterol checked is fast and easy. It simply involves having blood drawn, usually by a doctor, nurse, or technician. No special preparation is required beyond fasting for 8-12 hours beforehand for the most accurate baseline results.
Depending on the test, they’ll draw blood from a vein in your arm or prick your finger for a drop. The blood gets sent to a lab for analysis or immediately tested at select doctor’s offices.
Within a few days, your doctor will receive the test report showing numbers for:
Total cholesterol- LDL (bad) cholesterol
- HDL (good) cholesterol
- Triglycerides
These numbers will be compared against ideal ranges to see if yours fall into a healthy zone or not. Your doctor can then explain the results plus any steps to help get your levels where they should be.
Benefits of Finding Out Your Cholesterol Levels
Getting your cholesterol checked offers many valuable benefits beyond just knowing a number. It empowers you to take control of your heart health by:
- Providing a chance to lower cholesterol if needed through healthy diet changes, more exercise, quitting smoking, or other positive lifestyle adjustments.
- Allowing the opportunity to begin cholesterol medication if recommended by your doctor, which is proven to directly reduce risks of heart attack and stroke.
- Enabling your doctor to better calculate your overall risk for cardiovascular disease based on your full health profile and make appropriate recommendations to safeguard your future.
Getting tested can save your life by catching high cholesterol early, when it’s easier to get under control before it causes permanent damage.
Schedule a Cholesterol Check in Durham, NC Today
Getting your cholesterol checked is the key first step to understanding your risk of high cholesterol and managing heart health. Imperial Center Family Medicine, located in Durham, NC, provides cholesterol screenings and specialty expertise to help patients learn their levels.
If your results come back high, our expert healthcare providers will discuss the next steps for ongoing monitoring and lifestyle changes tailored to your needs. We help develop customized nutrition and exercise plans to try to reduce levels before considering medication.
With regular follow-ups, we empower patients to control cholesterol through non-drug approaches whenever possible for long-term well-being. Contact us today at 919-873-4437 or online to schedule your screening.