![]() If a person is concerned their LDL cholesterol may be too high, they should speak with their doctor. Health factors that could increase LDL cholesterol include:Ĭertain behaviors may also increase the risk of developing high LDL cholesterol, such as not being active or eating foods high in saturated and trans fats. In general, males have lower levels of HDL cholesterol, and females have lower levels of LDL cholesterol until they reach menopause or are about age 55. Age and genderĪs people get older, cholesterol naturally builds up as the body is no longer as efficient at clearing it. Shared genes, together with environment and lifestyle, may influence a person’s risk of increased LDL cholesterol levels, along with other conditions such as heart disease. Several risk factors may be linked with high LDL cholesterol, including family history, age, gender, and health conditions, and behaviors. Learn more about the health effects of alcohol here.Ĭonditions that high LDL cholesterol may contribute to include: Females should limit themselves to one drink per day. Males should not consume more than two drinks per day. When a person drinks alcohol, their cholesterol and triglyceride levels increase. Learn more about the health effects of smoking here. However, its effect on the cardiovascular system may increase the risk of heart disease in a person who already has high LDL cholesterol. Smoking has numerous detrimental effects on the body. Learn more about the physical and mental benefits of exercise here. Muscle-strengthening activities such as hill walking or resistance weight training may also help with maintaining moderate weight levels. A person could try cardio, for example, such as brisk walking or running. A weekly routine may include 30 minutes of exercise over 5 days. ![]() If a person is not very active and has a high body mass index (BMI), they may need to increase their activity levels.Īdults should aim to complete 150 minutes of physical activity a week. If a person is not at a moderate weight or has obesity, they may have an increased risk of high LDL cholesterol. ![]() They can also choose high-fiber foods to increase HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL cholesterol. Making healthy food choicesĪ person can prevent their LDL cholesterol from getting too high by eating foods low in saturated fat and avoiding tropical oils, such as palm oil, when cooking. Some health conditions may increase the risk of developing high LDL cholesterol, including type 2 diabetes and obesity.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people can lower their LDL cholesterol by taking the following actions. Drinking too much alcohol: Binge drinking may raise cholesterol.Stress: When a person feels stressed, they produce certain hormones that may cause their body to make more cholesterol.Smoking: Smoking may raise LDL cholesterol while lowering HDL cholesterol.Lack of physical activity: Doctors associate low activity levels with lower HDL cholesterol.These include:ĭay-to-day habits may affect LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. Some medications may increase LDL cholesterol or decrease HDL cholesterol. Learn more about saturated and unsaturated fats here. It also recommends limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of calories per day, starting at age 2. The Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that 20–35% of an adult’s daily calories come from fats. Foods high in saturated fat include fatty cuts of meat and rich dairy products. If a person’s diet is high in trans fat or saturated fat, they may be at risk of elevating their LDL cholesterol. Learn more about familial hypercholesterolemia here. The condition may affect 1 in 250 people worldwide, with 90% being undiagnosed, according to the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation. When someone has this condition, their body struggles to remove LDL cholesterol. If there is a change in a gene relating to cholesterol, a person may develop familial hypercholesterolemia. High levels of LDL cholesterol may run in families. There are many causes of high LDL cholesterol, with some being more treatable than others.
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