The rate of adult individuals with high cholesterol levels in Turkey and in the world and the fact that most of these individuals are not aware of their cholesterol levels (not being under the doctor’s control) is quite worrying. However, changes in lifestyle, medications, or a combination of both, under the supervision of a doctor, can bring your cholesterol back to the healthy levels.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, the proportion of individuals with blood cholesterol levels above 190 mg/dL (5 mmol/L) in the population is 39.7% in Turkey. Also, according to a study conducted in the United States, 95 million American adults have been reported to have high cholesterol levels, but less than a third of these individuals are under medical supervision.

Find Out Your Cholesterol Level

The amount of cholesterol in your blood has a lot to do with your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and having a heart attack.

What is Cholesterol Screening?

Your body needs cholesterol to produce hormones and keep your cells healthy. Cholesterol derives from two sources: Your liver and the food you eat. If your diet exceeds your body’s need for cholesterol or saturated fat, the level of cholesterol in your blood will also increase. At this point, it is very important to apply the treatments and lifestyle changes to be prescribed by your doctor. Even if you think you have a healthy lifestyle, you can keep track of your cholesterol levels with cholesterol screenings that you will have at the intervals recommended by your doctor.

When Should Cholesterol Screening Be Made?

The cholesterol level in your blood is determined by a simple blood test. Even if you think that you have a healthy lifestyle, from the age of 20, you can follow your cholesterol levels every 4 to 6 years with the control of your doctor. If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, or other factors that increase your risk of heart disease, your doctor may request more frequent screenings.

What Should the Ideal Cholesterol Level Be?

High blood cholesterol is an important risk factor for heart disease and stroke. You can reduce your risk by exercising more, losing weight if you’re overweight, quitting smoking, and eating a healthy diet. But the blood cholesterol level is personal. Your doctor should evaluate your lipid profile.

How Is High Cholesterol Treated?

Changing the Risk Factors: Risk factors in your lifestyle, such as lack of exercise and bad eating habits, are determined by your doctor and can make demands to change them.

Cholesterol Lowering Medication: Medicines are used to lower blood fats, especially LDL cholesterol. Statins are a group of medications that can achieve this. They include simvastatin, atorvastatin, and pravastatin. Two other types of medications that lower cholesterol levels are colesevelam, cholestyramine, and bile acid holders such as colestipol and nicotinic acid (niacin). Cholesterol-lowering medications must be prescribed by a doctor and used under the supervision of a doctor.