I recently went to the doctor for a routine checkup and when I received the results of my blood-work the cholesterol numbers were not looking too good. I was a little surprised because I view myself as being in relatively good shape. My diet could be better, but overall it’s really not so bad. It is certainly better than a lot of people I know. I go to the gym regularly and lead a fairly active lifestyle on the weekends. I’m not out running marathons or anything, but I do plenty of city/dog walking.
My numbers were 200 for cholesterol – HDL was 30, LDL was 123, and Triglycerides were 250.
The American Heart Association gives the following recommendations.
Cholesterol: Less than 200 is “desirable”
HDL: Greater than 40 for men and greater than 50 for women
LDL: Less than 100 is “optimal”
Triglycerides: Less than 150 is nomal
Overall, my numbers are not so far off the mark. They are not good, but not the worst either. My doctor mentioned that in a lot of ways having cholesterol levels like mine are the most dangerous kind to have. They are the type of numbers that promote complacency and silently damage your body over several years. In fact, most people who drop dead of a heart attack in their 40’s are those who had only moderately high cholesterol levels in their thirties.
This is actually true for many health problems. Right now, while in your thirties, is the time when you can really make a difference in your long-term health. This is the decade where you can make or break your health for the rest of your life. Don’t wait until you are in your forties or fifties to start thinking about being healthy. Much like financial investing, the earlier you start the better off you will be.
So, if you have not done so. Go get your cholesterol checked to see where you stand.
