Winter - Augusta Health

On the level
What your cholesterol levels mean—and how to control them
like high blood pressure, unheAlthy levels of
cholesterol hAve A WAy of doing their dAmAge Without
Any WArning signs thAt something’s Amiss. So unless
you’ve been tested to find out your
levels, you may not even know your
cardiovascular system is at risk for
narrowed arteries, heart attacks or
other ailments.
Experts recommend adults get
a simple blood test called a lipid
panel—which measures your total
RODNEy GRABER, MD
cholesterol, good HDL cholesterol,
bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides—beginning at age 20
and repeating about every five years (or more frequently if
your numbers are off).
But what numbers are you aiming for?
the numbers game
“ideally, you want your total cholesterol levels to be less than
200 mg/dL,” says Augusta Health cardiologist Rodney Graber,
MD. But total cholesterol only offers one part of the picture:
your HDL cholesterol, which removes excess cholesterol
from the bloodstream and keeps it from accumulating on
blood vessel walls, should be at least 50 to 60 mg/dL.
your LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dL, or
less than 70 mg/dL if you have heart disease or are at risk
for it.
triglycerides—another type of blood fat—should measure
below 150 mg/dL.
20 HealthMatters Fall 2012
taking charge
Cholesterol control typically starts with lifestyle measures,
such as quitting smoking, losing excess pounds, cutting back
on bad fats, concentrating on good fats (monounsaturated
and polyunsaturated) and incorporating more whole grains
into your diet, in addition to more frequent exercise. “Then i
bring them back in after three months and see how they’re
doing,” Dr. Graber says.
if improvements aren’t seen or aren’t significant,
medications such as statins are usually the next step. These
drugs not only lower cholesterol to healthier levels but also
stabilize existing cholesterol buildup (or plaque) and keep it
from rupturing, Dr. Graber says.
cholesterol type ideal levels
Total cholesterol Less than 200 mg/dL
HDL (good) cholesterol 50-60 mg/dL or higher
LDL (bad) cholesterol Less than 100 mg/dL
Triglycerides Less than 150 mg/dL
get healthY!
dr. graber’s practice, Augusta health cardiology,
is located at 70 medical center drive, suite 107 in
fishersville, on the Augusta health campus. for
more information or to schedule an appointment,
call (540) 332-4278.