There are two different types of cholesterol — low-density lipoproteins LDL and high-density lipoproteins HDL. If your LDL levels are higher than recommended, you might be at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Higher levels of HDL are linked to a lower risk of heart attack. In order to achieve or maintain desirable cholesterol levels, you first have to know where you stand.

Your primary care physician can run simple blood tests that will tell you exactly what your levels are. Low-fat dairy and poultry are also important, and unsaturated vegetable oils such as safflower, canola or olive oil are good for you, too.

Omega-3 fatty acids , found in fish, flax, flaxseed oil and chia seeds, can also help lower triglyceride levels, another type of blood lipid associated with cardiovascular disease that often accompanies a low HDL.

Avocados high in unsaturated fat , red wine in moderation and high-fiber fruits and grains like apples, pears, prunes, oatmeal and barley, are also known to decrease LDL-cholesterol and can help increase HDL levels.

Vegetarian dishes also offer a great way to get cholesterol-friendly protein and nutrients without all the meat. Most importantly, limit or avoid foods that are high in saturated and trans fats like fatty cuts of meat, chips, butter, cakes, cookies, and stick or hydrogenated margarine or shortening.

These foods can contribute to artery-clogging cholesterol. Starting a regular exercise program can have many positive effects when it comes to controlling cholesterol. Exercise can help raise HDL, lower LDL and triglycerides, improve blood flow throughout your body, send more oxygen to your muscles, and lower your blood pressure.

Exercising can also help you lose weight and reduce your body mass index BMI. Your healthcare professional can suggest the best type of exercise and frequency to help you reach your goals. And if you do smoke, now is a great time to quit.

Even after changing your diet and exercise routine, smoking can prevent the improvement of your cholesterol levels, while quitting can result in positive changes in your cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

The CDC recommends that people aged 20 or over check their cholesterol levels at least once every 4—6 years or more frequently if they have other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Children should have at least one cholesterol test at age 9—11 and another one at age 17— However, children with risk factors for high cholesterol may need more frequent checks.

Typically, males tend to have higher levels throughout their lives than females. The table below shows healthy levels of cholesterol by age, according to the National Institutes of Health NIH. For adults aged 20 and over, the following levels are significant:.

For HDL cholesterol, higher levels are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease:. Aging aside, any changes in cholesterol levels usually stem from health conditions and lifestyle factors.

Below, we describe healthy and unhealthy ranges in more detail. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , the following measures apply for children and adolescents aged 19 and below:.

The CDC point outs that some health conditions and lifestyle factors can raise cholesterol levels. It says that type 2 diabetes, for example, raises LDL cholesterol levels, as does familial hypercholesterolemia. The CDC also states that having a diet high in saturated fats and getting low levels of exercise may contribute to high cholesterol levels.

The NIH recommends these strategies for lowering cholesterol levels:. The NIH recommends consulting a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise plan.

Overall, current guidelines advise people to aim for at least minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise as well as muscle-strengthening exercise 2 days per week. Having a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise can also bring down high cholesterol levels in children.

Generally, the earlier a person starts making these changes, the better for their cholesterol levels, as cholesterol builds up over time. High cholesterol at any age increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

These risks only increase over time. When lifestyle changes alone cannot bring down high cholesterol, doctors may recommend medications. The CDC reports that the following drugs and supplements can help:. A healthcare professional should check cholesterol levels in adults aged 20 or older every 4—6 years.

Over this is very high. Dietary measures, weight management, and exercise can all help lower cholesterol levels. A doctor may prescribe medication if the person has other cardiovascular risk factors or if their levels are very high or do not respond to lifestyle measures. Cholesterol levels increase with age, and having high cholesterol at any age increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Reaching or maintaining healthy levels may involve lifestyle changes and, if these are not enough, prescription medication. A doctor should check cholesterol levels in adults, starting at the age of 20, every 4—6 years.

Plant sterols occur naturally in small amounts in vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, vegetables and fruit. It is recommended that you consume 2g of plant sterols per day to help lower your LDL cholesterol. Foods in Canada are now allowed to have up to 1g of plant sterols per serving added to them.

Look for foods fortified with plant sterols such as mayonnaise, margarine and salad dressing. Dietary fats and oils provide our bodies with energy, provide essential fats and help absorb fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. Both the quality and amount of fat you eat matters.

It is important to not focus on just one nutrient — it is your overall diet that will make the biggest difference to your health. Saturated fat intake should not be an issue if you are eating a healthy, balanced diet, few or no highly-processed foods and appropriate portion sizes.

Sometimes diet and exercise are not enough to lower your blood cholesterol levels. Several drugs are available to lower your blood cholesterol.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to including statins and other cholesterol lowering medication. How to manage your cholesterol PDF.

Find health eating tips here. Learn more about other risk factors for heart disease. Donate now. Jump to What is blood cholesterol? Diagnosis Understand your test results Prevention and management Nutrition labelling Plant sterols Dietary fats Medication to lower cholesterol Related information.

What is blood cholesterol? Cholesterol is naturally made by your body but is increased through our diet. Diagnosis Understand your risk The only way to know if you have high cholesterol levels is to have a simple blood test. Understand your test results Your test results will include: HDL cholesterol good cholesterol - good to have a high number LDL cholesterol bad cholesterol - good to have a low number Non HDL cholesterol total cholesterol — HDL cholesterol - good to have a low number Triglycerides - high reading may be tracked over time Your doctor will review your test results along with your risk factors, medical history and present health.

Familial hypercholesterolemia or inherited high cholesterol People with familial or inherited high cholesterol levels have a much higher risk of heart disease early in life.

Heit thinks immune system could hold key to preventing heart attacks. Read more. Prevention and management Making some lifestyle changes is a positive way to control your blood cholesterol levels. Eat a healthy balanced diet. Choose a variety of whole and minimally processed foods at every meal.

This means foods that are either not packaged or have few ingredients. Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal. Choose vegetables and fruit for snacks. Select fresh, frozen or canned vegetables and fruit. You want them to be plain, without sauce, sugar or salt added.

As a result, medication is often required in combination with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and increasing exercise. Different drugs lower LDL and triglycerides, raise HDL, and reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed in the digestive system.

A patient may take more than one cholesterol-lowering drug at the same time. All patients who already have coronary heart disease or diabetes should be treated with a statin.

Statins are safe and effective drugs for lowering cholesterol. Some patients may require the addition of a second medication. Drug therapy guidelines for high triglycerides are not as clear-cut as they are for cholesterol.

However, fibrates are the drug of choice for lowering triglycerides in the very high range for people whose cholesterol levels are relatively normal. Statins are effective against both cholesterol and triglycerides.

Successful treatment requires consistent blood sugar control for people with diabetes and avoidance of alcohol, oral estrogen, and retinoids. It is the most effective agent for increasing HDL levels. Medications are commonly prescribed if you are at high risk for CVD, or you are at moderate risk and have additional risk factors.

Remember to:. Learn more about the most important lifestyle changes and how to get started. Important lifestyle changes for lowering cholesterol include:.

Knowing your cholesterol level is an important step to good heart-health. High cholesterol affects almost half of Canadians aged 40 to 59 and more than a quarter of Canadians between the ages of 20 and 39, but many people with high cholesterol have no idea their levels are high.

Talk to your doctor to see if you should have your cholesterol measured, and for advice on managing your cholesterol. To achieve healthy cholesterol levels, many patients require both cholesterol-lowering drugs and changes in lifestyle habits.

Download the Canadian Cholesterol Guidelines. There are three main components of cholesterol you should know about: 1.

Who is at risk of high cholesterol? You have HIV Causes of high cholesterol Some causes of high cholesterol are beyond your control. These include: Getting too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in your diet Not living at your healthiest weight Lack of exercise Smoking High blood pressure Diabetes How Do I Know If I Have High Cholesterol?

What if my cholesterol levels are too high? Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs All patients who already have coronary heart disease or diabetes should be treated with a statin. Triglyceride-Lowering Drugs Drug therapy guidelines for high triglycerides are not as clear-cut as they are for cholesterol.

Remember to: Never stop taking your medication just because you are feeling better. Write down any symptoms you may experience so that you can remember to discuss them with your doctor.

Keep track of your medication, especially if you are taking multiple pills. A pocket medication card can help. Be on time and consistent with your medication so that it remains effective. Important lifestyle changes for lowering cholesterol include: Eating a healthy diet high in fibre and low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol Losing weight Increasing exercise Quitting smoking Managing diabetes Knowing your cholesterol level is an important step to good heart-health.

Best practice guidelines Download the Canadian Cholesterol Guidelines. Risk factors Age Family History Sex and Gender Ethnicity Blood Pressure Cholesterol Diabetes Physical Activity Smoking Stress, Anxiety and Depression What Can I Do?

During pregnancy , both cholesterol and triglyceride levels can significantly rise. We don't recommend getting a cholesterol test during pregnancy because your results won't be accurate. Our advice is to wait until at least weeks after your baby is born or after you stop breastfeeding to get a cholesterol test.

This means you don't need to worry unnecessarily. Women may also find their cholesterol levels rise during the menopause. If you have high cholesterol, high triglycerides or an unhealthy balance of blood fats, your doctor will probably recommend bringing these levels down with lifestyle changes and sometimes treatments.

Your doctor should look at your results in relation to any other risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure , being overweight , smoking , and other health conditions such as diabetes.

If you are at higher risk or already have cardiovascular disease , for example if you have already had a heart attack, stroke or TIA, or have peripheral vascular disease, you should already be on cholesterol-lowering medication such as statins.

If your current non-HDL level is not known, then the guideline is to aim for below 2. In addition to measuring your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your healthcare professional should also work out your risk of developing heart disease and stroke over the next 10 years using a risk assessment calculator known as QRISK3.

This is given as a percentage and takes into consideration all risk factors that can contribute, not just cholesterol and triglycerides. This forms part of the NHS Health check for those aged 40 - 74 in England.

Your healthcare professional can also work out your longer term risk using QRISK Lifetime calculator. These risk assessment tools are only for those who do not have existing heart disease and stroke, or high risk conditions. You can also work out your own risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years with the NHS Heart Age Tool.

You will get a more accurate result if you know your blood pressure numbers too. The heart age tool is designed for people aged 25 to It's not suitable for you if you already have a cardiovascular disease such as heart attack or stroke, or an inherited high cholesterol condition such as Familial Hypercholesterolaemia FH.

Being active is a major part of looking after your cholesterol and your heart. Get moving with these at-home workout videos. There are several foods which are not just part of a healthy diet, they can actively help to lower your cholesterol too. Take a look at our popular recipe collections for low cholesterol, all of which have been reviewed by our HEART UK dietitian.

By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Continue Find out more. Get healthy living and recipes sent straight to your inbox Sign up to our FREE monthly newsletter for tips, information and practical help to manage cholesterol.

Understand your cholesterol test results. Ask for a print out of your results if you are not able to speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist. What should your results include? Total cholesterol This is sometimes written as 'serum cholesterol' or 'TC' and refers to your overall level of cholesterol.

Non-HDL cholesterol Your non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol. Ideally it should be as low as possible. HDL cholesterol Your HDL cholesterol 'good' cholesterol helps clear the cholesterol out of your arteries, while your LDL cholesterol 'bad' cholesterol can clog them up.

HDL cholesterol levels of up to 1. TC:HDL ratio You might be given a TC:HDL ratio, which is the ratio of HDL compared to the total cholesterol. If not, you can work it out by a simple division: total cholesterol divided by HDL cholesterol.

This should be as low as possible. Above 6 is considered high.

Total and LDL cholesterol levels should be low. Doctors can measure HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol levels. The results may also show levels of all non-HDL fats that can raise the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol levels tend to increase with age. Taking steps to reach or maintain healthy levels earlier in life may prevent them from becoming dangerously high over time.

Years of unmanaged cholesterol levels can be challenging to treat. The CDC recommends that people aged 20 or over check their cholesterol levels at least once every 4—6 years or more frequently if they have other cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Children should have at least one cholesterol test at age 9—11 and another one at age 17— However, children with risk factors for high cholesterol may need more frequent checks.

Typically, males tend to have higher levels throughout their lives than females. The table below shows healthy levels of cholesterol by age, according to the National Institutes of Health NIH. For adults aged 20 and over, the following levels are significant:. For HDL cholesterol, higher levels are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease:.

Aging aside, any changes in cholesterol levels usually stem from health conditions and lifestyle factors. Below, we describe healthy and unhealthy ranges in more detail. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , the following measures apply for children and adolescents aged 19 and below:.

The CDC point outs that some health conditions and lifestyle factors can raise cholesterol levels. It says that type 2 diabetes, for example, raises LDL cholesterol levels, as does familial hypercholesterolemia.

The CDC also states that having a diet high in saturated fats and getting low levels of exercise may contribute to high cholesterol levels.

The NIH recommends these strategies for lowering cholesterol levels:. The NIH recommends consulting a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise plan.

Overall, current guidelines advise people to aim for at least minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise as well as muscle-strengthening exercise 2 days per week. Having a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise can also bring down high cholesterol levels in children.

Generally, the earlier a person starts making these changes, the better for their cholesterol levels, as cholesterol builds up over time. High cholesterol at any age increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. These risks only increase over time.

When lifestyle changes alone cannot bring down high cholesterol, doctors may recommend medications. The CDC reports that the following drugs and supplements can help:. A healthcare professional should check cholesterol levels in adults aged 20 or older every 4—6 years. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is a great way to keep your heart healthy.

It can lower your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke. All adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol and other traditional risk factors checked every four to six years.

If certain factors put you at high risk, or if you already have heart disease, your doctor may ask you to check it more often. Work with your doctor to determine your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke and create a plan to reduce your risk. Learn how to get your cholesterol tested.

Your total cholesterol and HDL good cholesterol are among numerous factors your doctor can use to predict your lifetime or year risk for a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will also consider other risk factors, such as age, family history, smoking status, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Lipid profile or lipid panel is a blood test that will give you results for your HDL good cholesterol, LDL bad cholesterol, triglycerides and total blood or serum cholesterol. Watch an animation about cholesterol score.

A healthy HDL-cholesterol level may protect against heart attack and stroke. Your doctor will evaluate your HDL and other cholesterol levels and other factors to assess your risk for heart attack or stroke. People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower levels of HDL.

Genetic factors, Type 2 diabetes, smoking, being overweight and being sedentary can all lower HDL cholesterol. Women tend to have higher levels of HDL cholesterol than men do, but this can change after menopause.

Since LDL is the bad kind of cholesterol, a low LDL level is considered good for your heart health. LDL levels are one factor among many to consider when evaluating cardiovascular risk. According to the U. National Library of Medicine, there are no known symptoms of high cholesterol.

The reason high cholesterol is considered problematic is not because of any outward symptom, but because some research indicates that it may increase your risk of heart disease if it stays high over the course of several years.

For most people, maintaining normal cholesterol levels is a matter of diet and lifestyle. The focus should be on achieving good ratios of different cholesterol levels and practicing a diet and lifestyle that gives the body the best overall chance at health.

What causes high cholesterol? Likely, this happens if you eat a diet high in omega-6s but low in omega-3s which leads to inflammation , processed foods, a lot of refined grains and excess sugar.

Smoking, obesity and sedentary lifestyle also contribute to high cholesterol. What are healthy cholesterol numbers then? What are the best cholesterol ratios? Monitor your HDL to LDL cholesterol by making sure you have a ratio of one HDL particle to every 2.

A ratio of or higher means your cholesterol is pretty out of whack, while a ratio of or higher is considered to be dangerously unhealthy. To calculate where you fall, multiply your HDL number by 2. If the result is the same or higher as your LDL cholesterol number, then your ratio is in a good range.

When you divide your triglycerides to your total HDL cholesterol, it can help reveal elevated heart disease risk. This could be due to the fact triglyceride numbers relate directly to the amount of VLDL cholesterol you currently have. If that number is higher than. What is hyperlipidemia? It means your triglycerides and cholesterol are both too high.

Take note: the LDL levels normal range particularly for people at high risk is nearly impossible to achieve without being on cholesterol-lowering medications.

Total starchy food and carbohydrate intake are associated with metabolic syndrome , a condition identified by high cholesterol and other factors that equate to higher heart disease risk. The Mediterranean diet features a ton of cholesterol-lowering foods and also includes low amounts of refined carbohydrates and healthy fats.

The high amount of healthy fats in the Mediterranean diet also can help to raise your HDL cholesterol. Losing just 5—10 percent of your total body weight helps to reduce triglycerides and increase HDL levels. Be sure to watch how much you drink, though. One study found that, based on conventional models of cholesterol and heart disease risk, that 30 grams or about one fluid ounce per day of alcohol would reduce the risk of coronary heart disease CHD by On the other hand, it may slightly raise triglycerides.