Know Your LDL Cholesterol Level Like You Know Your Date of Birth

There are a handful of numbers in life that we must know by heart. For instance most people memorize their address, their telephone number, their height and weight, the year they were born, and others. However, one critical number that most adults should know is their LDL cholesterol level, as this number provides a fairly reliable marker for future heart disease and stroke.

So what is a normal LDL level? This depends on your overall health and predisposition for heart disease. If you are a healthy individual with little or no predisposition for heart disease (i.e., you have no more than one risk factor for heart disease such as cigarette smoking, a first degree relative with heart disease, age over 45 for men and over 55 for women, and low HDL or “good cholesterol”) then you are allowed to have an LDL cholesterol of 160 before you need to start modifying your lifestyle to decrease your level. If however you are someone with 2 risk factors then that level is 130. But if you have more than two factors, then you need to have a plan to decrease your LDL cholesterol if it ever goes above 100.

So, is it worth it to know your LDL number? It is. Knowing this number will make you aware of where you are with respect to your heart health, and it will force you to think about your diet. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring this important number the next time you go to the doctor. Know it by heart, and take control of the future state of your health.