SingleCareHere is What Your Cholesterol Should Be at Each Age

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Understanding cholesterol levels across different age groups enables physicians to better assess cardiovascular risk and implement appropriate interventions. This comprehensive overview examines age-specific cholesterol targets, testing frequencies, and management strategies, incorporating guidance from leading cardiology experts and organizations.

Key Points:

• Total cholesterol targets remain consistent for adults (optimal: 125-200 mg/dL), while LDL targets vary based on risk factors – less than 100 mg/dL for those without risk factors and less than 70 mg/dL for high-risk patients with previous cardiovascular events
• HDL targets differ by sex: optimal levels are >40 mg/dL for adult males and >50 mg/dL for adult females, with higher levels providing increased cardiovascular protection
• Testing frequency recommendations: initial screening between ages 9-11, every 5 years for young adults, every 1-2 years for men >45 and women >55, with more frequent monitoring for those with risk factors
• Primary risk factors include unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, family history, underlying conditions (Type 2 diabetes, obesity, familial hypercholesterolemia), and smoking
• First-line intervention focuses on lifestyle modifications through Mediterranean-style diet and regular exercise (40 minutes of brisk activity, 4 days/week), followed by statin therapy when indicated

“For most people, regardless of what you do, LDL cholesterol tends to go up as you age.”
– Samuel Kim, MD, Director of Preventive Cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center

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