According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 35 million Americans living with high cholesterol. Are you one of them?

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Cheltenham wants you to learn the symptoms of high cholesterol, as well as things you can do to help lower your levels.

What Is a Healthy Cholesterol Level?

When it comes to your total cholesterol, you want to aim for a reading less than 200 mg/dL. Between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high, and above that is high.

Because high cholesterol often has no symptoms, it is important to get your cholesterol levels checked on a yearly basis.

Risk Factors of High Cholesterol

• Poor diet
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Diabetes

How Is High Cholesterol Diagnosed?

High cholesterol is diagnosed using a lipid panel, a type of blood work that checks the cholesterol levels in the blood.

This panel reads several types of cholesterol, including your total cholesterol, your HDL cholesterol (the good kind), your LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and your triglycerides.

Ways to Prevent High Cholesterol

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid trans fats and minimize your intake of saturated fats.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Quit smoking.

When was the last time you had your health numbers checked, including your cholesterol and blood pressure? Visit AFC Urgent Care Cheltenham today for a medical evaluation.