Health and Fitness Information Center

High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know, Part 4

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In general, the higher your LDL level and the more risk factors you have (other than LDL), the greater your chances of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Some people are at high risk for a heart attack because they already have heart disease. Other people are at high risk for developing heart disease because they have diabetes (which is a string risk factor) or a combination or risk of risk factors for heart disease. Follow these steps to find out your risk for developing heart disease.

Step 1:

Check the list below to see how many of the listed risk factors your have.

Major risk factors that affect your LDL goal:

• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher on blood pressure medication)
• Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg)*
• Family history of early heart disease (heart disease in father or brother before age 55; heart disease in mother or sister before age 65)
• Age (men 45 years or older; women 55 years or older)

Even though obesity and physical inactivity are not counted in this list, they are conditions that need to be corrected.