So, your provider told you that you have elevated or high cholesterol. What does that mean, and what can you do about it? And if you don’t have high cholesterol, how do you know if you’re at risk?

These are questions that healthcare professionals hope to bring to light during Cholesterol Education Month, which is held every September to raise awareness about cholesterol management and how high cholesterol can lead to other serious diseases.

A blood test is necessary to check cholesterol levels — called a lipid panel or lipid profile — and it collects information about your total, LDL and HDL cholesterols as well as triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. This blood test should be performed about every five years, but could vary depending on your personal risk factors.

Cholesterol levels are directly linked to heart disease risk, and the higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk. While there is a genetic component to serum cholesterol that is out of your control, there are still some ways you can lower your cholesterol if it is elevated.

The first is simply knowing your numbers, and the second is understanding what they mean.

Reading your numbers

There are two types of blood cholesterol: LDL (“bad”) and HDL (“good”). When the body has too much LDL cholesterol or not enough HDL cholesterol, it can cause buildup called “plaque” on the walls of blood vessels, leading to heart attack or stroke.

High cholesterol typically has no signs or symptoms, which is why it’s important to have your cholesterol checked by your healthcare provider through a simple blood test.

According to the Mayo Clinic, here’s how you can read your lipid panel to determine if you have elevated or high cholesterol:

Once you determine if you have high cholesterol or not, you can make the necessary changes to live a healthier lifestyle. About 14 percent of Americans fall into the “high” category for cholesterol, according to Harvard Health.

Risk factors for high cholesterol include type 2 diabetes, obesity, low physical activity, smoking, unhealthy diet and familial hypercholesterolemia.

Tips to lower your cholesterol

Harvard Health states that for every 10 percent drop in cholesterol, a person decreases their risk for heart attack by 20 to 30 percent. That, alone, makes it worth the effort.

While you can’t control some of your risk factors for high cholesterol, you can take some steps to lower it before it leads to other medical conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral atrial disease, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

Five lifestyle changes you can implement that helps improve cholesterol levels, according to the Mayo Clinic, includes:

1. Eating more heart-healthy foods, reducing saturated fat intake and eliminating trans fats. Decrease your consumption of full-fat dairy products and red meats. Eat more foods with omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts and flaxseeds. Eat more soluble fiber, which is found in foods such as oatmeal, kidney beans, apples and brussels sprouts.
2. Increase your physical activity. Exercise is proven to raise your HDL or “good” cholesterol. Get in at least 30 minutes of exercise, five days per week. This includes taking a walk during your lunch hour, riding your bike to work or playing your favorite sport.
3. Quit smoking, if applicable. Smoking cessation improves HDL cholesterol. Within your first year of quitting, your risk of heart disease is cut in half compared to those who still smoke.
4. Lose weight. Even just a few extra pounds can raise your cholesterol levels.
5. Moderate alcohol consumption. Alcohol has been linked to higher levels of HDL cholesterol; however, the benefits aren’t strong enough to recommend alcohol for non-drinkers. If you do drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart failure.

Sometimes, lifestyle changes aren’t enough and medical treatment is necessary. Your primary care provider will prescribe you medication if they determine that it will help with your cholesterol levels. Take this medication as prescribed while also implementing lifestyle changes. Medication recommendations are based on your age, overall health, risk factors and possible side effects.

Think you know cholesterol?

The CDC created this fun, five-question quiz to test your cholesterol-related knowledge.

Click here to play “Cholesterol: Fact or Fiction?”

3 cholesterol myths vs. facts

MYTH: Check-ins for cholesterol should start when you’ve reached middle age.

FACT: Your first check-in should be between 9 and 11 years old, then again between 17 and 21 years old. After 20, your healthcare provider will weigh your cholesterol levels and risk factors to determine how frequently you’ll need check-ins thereafter — typically every four to six years.

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MYTH: Only those who are overweight or obese have high cholesterol.

FACT: Individuals of any body type can be at risk for elevated or high cholesterol. Yes, being overweight or obese increases your chances, but even thin individuals can be at risk, which is why routine check-ins are so important.

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MYTH: If I had high cholesterol, I’d be able to physically feel it.
FACT: High cholesterol typically has no signs or symptoms. You may not even know you have it until it’s too late and you suffer a heart attack or stroke.

Source: American Heart Association, CDC