High Cholesterol: Prevention, Causes and How to Cope

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High cholesterol isn’t just the property of unfit people with unhealthy habits.

For millions, high cholesterol—levels of 200 milligrams or more per deciliter of blood—is inherited, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That is why the American Heart Association recommends cholesterol checks for adults 20 and over every four to six years, regardless of fitness and lifestyle.

Often without symptoms, high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol can build up and block coronary arteries, according to Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross.

“This could limit blood flow to the brain and lead to a stroke or a heart attack,” Chambers says.

Some 94 million people in the U.S. have high cholesterol, the CDC says. It contributes to heart disease and stroke, and adds hundreds of millions of dollars annually in excess medical costs and lost productivity. About a third of all U.S. adults have not had a cholesterol screening in the last five years, the CDC says.

How to Combat High Cholesterol

The good news is that we know what works:

  • Cholesterol-lowering medications. Only about 55% of those who need them actually take them, the CDC says.
  • Diet low in saturated fats. Saturated, or “bad,” fats are the main culprits leading to high LDL.
  • Weight management. Excess body fat often means higher cholesterol.
  • Don’t smoke. Smoking makes bad cholesterol worse and lowers levels of HDL or “good,” cholesterol.

No-Cost Preventive Services for Managing Cholesterol

Many health plans, including Capital Blue Cross, offer a variety of no-cost preventive services such as:

  • An annual preventive visit to assess health and other risk factors.
  • Preventive medications such as statins. See a full covered medication list at capbluecross.com.
  • A lab test to check cholesterol levels.
  • Blood pressure screenings.
  • Behavioral counseling for cardiovascular disease prevention.

“High cholesterol doesn’t have to create huge health problems,” Dr. Chambers says.

(For more health and wellness news and information that can benefit your business and employees, visit thinkcapitalbluecross.com.)

Capital Blue Cross | CapitalBlueCross.com 

This post is a sponsored collaboration between Capital Blue Cross and Lehigh Valley Style.