
The test measures the types of fat and cholesterol in your blood. To measure your cholesterol, you will need to get a cholesterol test, also called a lipid panel or lipid profile. Losing as little as 5% to 10% of your body weight can improve cholesterol numbers. Smoking and vaping lowers good HDL cholesterolīeing overweight or obese can raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. A heart-healthy diet also includes recipes incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts into your diet, and limiting sodium, sugar and fried foods.Ī sedentary lifestyle lowers your good HDL cholesterol. Choose skim milk, low-fat or fat-free dairy products instead. Reducing these fats means limiting your intake of red meat and dairy products made with whole milk. The best way to lower your cholesterol is to reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats.

Often changing your lifestyle or behavior can bring your numbers into line, including these steps: The good news is high cholesterol can be lowered, reducing risk of heart disease and stroke. LDL cholesterol is less than 100 milligrams and HDL is more than 50 milligrams. LDL cholesterol is less than 100 milligrams and HDL is more than 40 milligrams. LDL cholesterol is less than 110 milligrams and HDL is more than 45 milligrams. What cholesterol level is considered normal? Normal or healthy levels of cholesterol are different, depending on your age and sex: There are no symptoms for high cholesterol.

When you have high cholesterol, you have too much LDL and not enough HDL in your blood, increasing your risk for a blockage causing a heart attack or stroke. This is why LDL is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. LDL is the type of cholesterol that can eventually build up within the walls of your arteries, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

What is cholesterol?Ĭholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in all of your cells. You can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease by keeping your cholesterol at normal levels.
