What are Normal Cholesterol Levels? How to Get Tested & Find Out if Your Cholesterol is Normal
Heart Health
Many people understand the importance of maintaining a great awareness of their personal cholesterol reading. High cholesterol can present many negative health effects and can be harmful to the heart. Since the heart is so important, we should be very considerate of cholesterol count in our bodies. To find out if you have normal cholesterol readings, you should go to a health center and get it checked. However, this is not always practical for everyone, especially since many people only seek medical care when they are sick rather than for preventative maintenance.
Cholesterol count is a very important indicator of heart health. Heart failure is most often caused by a dangerous amount of cholesterol. Even the most advanced medicine for cholesterol is not enough to fully prevent heart disease from occurring. In fact, these medicines do little to cure high cholesterol. Rather, they act as a band aid the situation, addressing the symptoms instead of the cause. This is why it is important to know what normal cholesterol levels are, and how to take steps to ensure that yours falls within that range.
How to Find Out
Awareness is the key to prevention of high cholesterol and heart disease. Consult your doctor or cardiologist to determine your personal target cholesterol levels. Your physician will obtain your level with a test called a blood cholesterol test. If you find that you have high cholesterol, take the suggestions provided to you by your doctor and save yourself from having to deal with the heart disease and other risks associated with it.
The cholesterol test will require a simple skin prick usually in the forearm. This feels much like pinching your skin together with your index finger and thumb. Once the test is done, you will be advised of your cholesterol count and also other information about your blood.
This test will determine three things – the total blood cholesterol level, the level of good cholesterol, and the level of bad cholesterol. According to Darrell J. Youngman at HeartPoint.com, a person’s cholesterol level typically ranges from 100 to 500, and sometimes higher. Ideally, this number shouldn’t go higher than 200. This goal can be accomplished with proper diet and exercise. A number between 200 and 250 is considered “borderline” dangerous, meaning that while your risk factor is currently relatively low, it’s time to take preventative action. If your level is above this, you really need to address the issue – especially if you have a family history of heart related illnesses.
A great way to address high cholesterol is to start an exercise routine consisting of weight training and cardiovascular exercise. Exercise will help reduce cholesterol levels, promote a healthier, stronger heart, and help improve numerous other harmful health condiitions. Try to begin with an exercise routine consisting of a full body workout 2 days a week sprinkled with a day or two of moderate jogging. If you stay consistent, you will notice that your cholesterol readings will become and remain normal. Remember that it is always better to prevent serious complications than to wait for them to become harmful problems. Be proactive with your health. Good luck!
