How often should you have your cholesterol checked? What should your ideal LDL cholesterol level be? Take our Everwell Challenge and get the answers.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Cholesterol is something everyone talks about, but how much do we really know? To find out, we visited a farmers market to chew the fat, the good fat, that is, and put shoppers to the test. Follow along and see how well you do with this Everwell Challenge.
1) According to the American Heart Association, how often should you have your cholesterol checked?
Typically the test measures not only the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, but also fats known as trigylcerides, HDL or “good” cholesterol, and LDL or “bad cholesterol.
2) Which leads to our next question: ideally, what should your LDL be?
A. Under 200
B. Under 100
C. Under 50
3) The best way to raise your HDL is to cut back on fat. True or false.
4) Which of these is worst for your cholesterol level overall?
A. Stick margarine
B. Eggs
C. Nuts
5) True or false: Having high cholesterol means you’re likely to have a heart attack.
<b>Answers: </b>
1) The answer is, every five years after the age of 20.
Well, not so fast. If you have abnormal cholesterol levels, are older, or have other risk factors for heart disease, you may need more frequent checks.
2) B, under 100
For people who have known coronary artery disease, diabetes or multiple risk factors for heart disease, it would be necessary to have those numbers well less than a 100.
Experts say your total cholesterol should be under 200.
Your HDL or good cholesterol should be at least 40 if you’re a man, and 50 if you’re a woman.
3) Cutting back on saturated and trans fats can help lower your bad cholesterol, but when it comes to boosting good cholesterol, eating “good” fats – the kinds in fish and certain vegetable oils – can help. So can losing weight and quitting smoking. Ditto for drinking alcohol. But moderation is key: No more than a drink a day if you’re a woman and a two a day if you’re a man.
4) A. Stick margarine has a type of fat that when introduced into the body produces far more cholesterol than would be in nuts or would be in eggs. Even though eggs are high in cholesterol, they don’t raise most people’s blood cholesterol levels. And nuts contain good fats that may have a beneficial effect on your cholesterol.
5) The answer is false. High cholesterol is a risk factor, which merely means it increases the odds of a heart attack, not that it makes one likely. Other risk factors include diabetes, cigarette smoking, family history, obesity to a certain extent, and hypertension. While high cholesterol doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a heart attack, normal cholesterol doesn’t mean you’re safe either. Half of people with heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels.
While high cholesterol doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a heart attack, normal cholesterol doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe either. Half of people with heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels.