You may know your cholesterol levels now, but do you know how they’ll change as you age? This chart will help you figure out your cholesterol levels in the future by looking at where they are now and your age bracket.
You can use this to get a general idea of your future cholesterol levels and see if there are any areas you want to focus on improving. Remember, the best way to keep your cholesterol in check is to stick with healthy eating habits and incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood and cell membranes. It’s used to make hormones and Vitamin D, metabolize fat and keep cells from injury or premature death. For example, arteries clog when there’s too much cholesterol on their walls.
Because of that, doctors regularly check their patients’ cholesterol levels, which you can track here to see if they need medications or other interventions. Below is an Excel lab showing how changing variables affect cholesterol levels.
Total cholesterol level and risk
By age 40, your total cholesterol level should be below 200. After that, it’s a good idea to get a checkup every five years or so. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, Essa Lab can help keep track of your levels and ensure they are within an optimal range. We can create chart templates that allow you to chart other vital information, such as blood pressure, sugar levels, and BMI.
Types of cholesterol test results
The Essa Lab Report has a variety of cholesterol test results for your needs. Whether you need a fast or straightforward result, or something more in-depth and detailed, we can cater to your lab report requirements. We recommend discussing them with a medical professional to understand your results fully.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), good vs bad
You can have high LDL and still be within a healthy range. High cholesterol is often an indicator of other health issues, like heart disease, and that’s why most doctors focus on total cholesterol levels.
However, one particular lipoprotein you should know about is low-density lipoprotein (LDL), commonly referred to as bad cholesterol. When a blood test shows high LDL levels, your body has more LDL particles circulating in your bloodstream than it should.
But not all are bad! An Excel test report created by your doctor will typically show you where your levels fall based on certain factors, including age and gender.
Triglycerides
According to Essa Test Report, age and triglycerides are strongly correlated: levels rise as we get older. However, it’s still a good idea for anyone over age 30 who isn’t sure about their cholesterol numbers to check them.
Because high triglyceride levels can also be caused by diabetes or a hormonal imbalance, it’s best not to rely on your family history alone.
Calculating the LDL/HDL ratio
Calculating your LDL/HDL ratio is essential, as it can tell you if you’re at high risk for coronary heart disease. This calculation isn’t always necessary (only recommended when your physician requests it).
But if you have an elevated LDL level or have an additional reason to believe you might be at risk for cardiovascular issues, calculating and plotting your ratios is essential. For some quick tips on plotting these levels, check out Excel Lab Reports.
