Good Levels of HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, and Total Cholesterol

… Continuing …

1. If you are diagnosed with diabetes (either type-1 or type 2 diabetes) that requires treatment. Having frequent episodes of high blood sugar can make your LDL surge. See also more complication of diabetes!
2. If you have a personal history of stroke attack or heart attack.
3. If you are diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (artery blockages in the legs or arms) and /or carotid artery disease (artery blockages in the neck).
4. If you have two or more the following conditions: smoker (cigarette smoking can worsen your blood flow), hypertension, elevated lipoprotein level (more lipoprotein means more fat /cholesterol that can travel through the blood), older than 55 (if you are a woman) or over 45 (if you are a man), having a family history of heart disease or premature heart disease, and if your HDL (good cholesterol) lower than normal.

As mentioned before, generally the first time of cholesterol screening test is recommended if you are over 20.

How about in kids? So far, high cholesterol is not common in kids. However, there is also a chance for them to have this problem. Fortunately not all of them need to take the test.

But sometime doctors may ask kids who have lots of risk factors of premature coronary heart disease /high cholesterol (particularly for those with a family history of this health problem) to take the test earlier.