Total cholesterol levels over 200 are usually considered high or raised by doctors. Meanwhile, insurance companies frequently accept applicants with total cholesterol levels of 275 or 300 in the Preferred Best rate class, which is the highest premium class possible (say what?!). What’s the deal with the discrepancy? How can someone with a high cholesterol level get the greatest life insurance rates?
Rather than just looking at the number, insurance companies examine your cholesterol ratio. This is calculated by dividing total cholesterol by HDL cholesterol. The ratio is 5.0 if your cholesterol is 200 and your HDL is 40.
Your increased cholesterol of 200 is attributed to good cholesterol in the eyes of insurers, making you healthier than an applicant with a cholesterol level of 200 but an HDL level of 20, resulting in a ratio of 10.0.
Does high cholesterol disqualify you from life insurance?
Is it possible to receive life insurance if you have a high cholesterol level? You can still receive life insurance if you have high cholesterol, but you may have to pay higher rates.
What is considered critically high cholesterol?
All Americans over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years, according to the American Heart Association. Because your risk of heart disease increases as you get older, your doctor may advise you to have your cholesterol checked more frequently.
- Total Cholesterol in the Blood Consider it your overall “score.” According to the AHA, this number is the consequence of adding your HDL and LDL values, as well as 20% of your triglyceride level. According to Barbara Roberts, MD, a clinical associate professor emerita of medicine at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and former director of the Women’s Cardiac Center at The Miriam Hospital, a total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is “desirable” and anything over 239 mg/dL is “high,” but this number is less meaningful than it appears. She goes on to say that the ratio of good to bad cholesterol is crucial.
- HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Choleste A high HDL level is connected to good heart health, thus you want this number to be greater. According to the Cleveland Clinic, an HDL level of 60 mg/dL or greater appears to be protective against heart disease. A level of less than 40 mg/dL, on the other hand, appears to be nonprotective and may even be hazardous.
- LDL Cholesterol is a kind of cholesterol that is found in the bloodstream The holy grail is an LDL of less than 100 mg/dL; a value of 129 mg/dL or lower is also acceptable. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a range of 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high, 160 to 189 mg/dL is high, and above 189 mg/dL is dangerous.
- Triglycerides According to the American Heart Association, normal triglyceride levels vary by age and gender. Diabetes, being overweight or obese, being sedentary, drinking too much alcohol, and eating a diet high in sugar, processed foods, and saturated fat are all risk factors for high triglycerides. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a normal level is less than 150 mg/dL; if it approaches 200 mg/dL, it is borderline high; and anything above 200 mg/dL is high and puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease. A triglyceride level of 500 mg/dL or greater is regarded extremely hazardous.
Is a cholesterol level of 170 bad?
Anil Purohit, MD, a non-invasive cardiologist at HCA Healthcare’s Grand Strand Medical Center, explains what having high cholesterol levels means and how many people are affected.
“Many individuals believe that the number of persons who are impacted by high cholesterol is undercounted. “This issue affects anywhere from 100 to 102 million Americans,” said Dr. Purohit, who specializes in preventative cardiology at Grand Strand Heart and Vascular Care. “Sadly, around 40% of the population is underdiagnosed and undertreated with prescribed pharmaceuticals.”
We asked Dr. Purohit a few additional questions regarding cholesterol the “good” and “bad” kinds, as well as suggestions for lowering high levels in the video below.
It’s a chemical that the liver makes and then releases into the bloodstream. It’s not all negative; it’s really helpful for a number of biological functions. It’s crucial for things like skin maintenance and hormone development, so you’ll need cholesterol to live and keep your body growing.
It’s kept in a lipid (fat) envelope and transported in lipoproteins, which are divided into two types: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (HDL). As a result, cholesterol is delivered through the bloodstream to various organs and body parts that we need to grow, such as skin and hormones.
A total cholesterol level of less than 170 is considered healthy. Anything between 170 and 199 is borderline, while anything beyond 200 is considered excessive. Total cholesterol is made up of HDL, LDL, and a small percentage of triglycerides, which are another form of fat found in the blood.
A good HDL level should be as high as possible around 45 or above; a low level should be less than 40, and the borderline should be between 40 and 45.
The LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is a type of cholesterol that is regarded “The “bad” cholesterol level should be under 110, however this number varies based on risk factors. If you have heart disease risk factors, doctors normally want that number to be fewer than 70.
LDL readings that are borderline are between 110 and 129, and anything above 130 is deemed excessive.
We have been following these tried and reliable guidelines. Over time, the guidelines have changed. We now set cholesterol goals for patients based on their risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and age.
Approximately 73 million persons in the United States have high levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cholesterol is “bad.” LDL cholesterol is deposited in the lining of arteries, which are blood channels that connect various parts of the body. Our bodies are essentially a collection of pipes that connect from one location to another via blood vessels. Because of the composition of LDL cholesterol, it has a proclivity for forming a build-up on the arterial wall, triggering a process known as atherosclerosis, or plaque, which is caused mostly by cholesterol LDL deposits. Plaque can form in any part of the body. Coronary artery disease is the name given to it when it affects the heart.
It doesn’t work that way. Although having high cholesterol puts you at an increased risk for heart disease, it does not guarantee that you will acquire it.
dietary choices – foods high in saturated fat have a high cholesterol content;
Yes, there is a class of drugs known as statins that is frequently recommended. We usually prescribe the statin class depending on the patient’s unique profile. Crestor or Lipitor are two moderate to high-intensity statin medicines. They can lower cholesterol levels by as much as 50% at the greatest tolerated dose. They can reduce bad cholesterol by as much as 30-35 percent in moderate low doses, while lower potency doses can reduce cholesterol by as much as 20%.
Many patients believe that their cholesterol levels would improve on their own in a few months, but it normally takes anything from 6 months to a year to see any change. We may need to modify the dose of your meds if I haven’t seen you in roughly 8 months in my office. As a result, it will take time; you won’t notice anything right away.
- Regular aerobic activity, at least at a moderate speed, for 30-45 minutes four times a week is recommended.
- Increase your good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering your bad cholesterol (LDL) by eating more fruits and vegetables.
- Tobacco cessation, no smoking – we already know that smoking lowers good HDL;
- Managing some of the other co-existing risk factors, such as diabetes, that can lead to high cholesterol.
Dr. Anil Purohit is a board-certified cardiologist affiliated with HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division’s Grand Strand Medical Center and Grand Strand Heart & Vascular Care.
Is 215 considered high cholesterol?
Total cholesterol levels of fewer than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in adults are considered normal.
- For persons with no health problems, a blood sugar level of 100129 mg/dL is appropriate, but anyone with heart disease or heart disease risk factors should be concerned.
HDL levels should be maintained at a healthy range. HDL levels should be 60 mg/dL or greater to be considered optimum.
Can you get life insurance with high triglycerides?
High lipid levels are taken seriously by life insurance providers. You’re probably aware that elevated lipids are a predictor of arterial clogging and arteriosclerosis in the future. You’re a higher-risk candidate than the average.
Because heart disease is the top cause of mortality in the world, they’ll most likely do a thorough examination of you before determining whether or not to give you with life insurance coverage.
The good news is that we work with more than 60 “A-rated” life insurance providers and approve high lipid or high cholesterol life insurance policies on a daily basis.
Here’s a quick reference guide to this article; feel free to skip to the part you need.
How can I reduce high cholesterol?
A few dietary adjustments can help lower cholesterol and enhance heart health:
- Reduce your intake of saturated fats. Total cholesterol is raised by saturated fats, which are found predominantly in red meat and full-fat dairy products.
Is 230 cholesterol level high?
A blood test called a lipid panel can easily detect high cholesterol. Your doctor will draw a blood sample and send it to a laboratory for testing. You must fast for at least 12 hours before the test, according to your doctor’s instructions.
Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides are all measured in a lipid panel. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following levels are ideal:
The term “total cholesterol” refers to the overall amount of cholesterol in your body “If it’s between 200 and 239 mg/dL, it’s termed “borderline high.” It is thought to be “If it’s over 240 mg/dL, it’s called “high.”
LDL cholesterol is sometimes referred to as “bad cholesterol.” “If it’s between 130 and 159 mg/dL, it’s termed “borderline high.” It is thought to be “If it’s over 160 mg/dL, it’s called “high.”
Is 220 high for cholesterol?
Cholesterol isn’t all terrible. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is referred described as “good” cholesterol because it prevents LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, from accumulating in your arteries. HDL levels should be as high as possible. HDL cholesterol levels of 60 mg/dL or above can help lower your risk of heart disease. HDL values of 40 mg/dL or less, on the other hand, are considered a major risk factor for heart disease.
What is stroke level cholesterol?
Serum cholesterol levels of less than 4.14 mmol/L raised the chance of fatal intracranial hemorrhage, while levels of more than 7.23 mmol/L increased the risk of ischemic stroke mortality.
LDL cholesterol
LDL cholesterol levels should be fewer than 100 mg/dl in the ideal situation. Doctors may not be concerned about levels of 100129 mg/dl in persons who have no health problems, but they may recommend treatment for people who have heart disease or associated risk factors at this time.
A measurement of 130159 mg/dl is borderline high, and levels of 160189 mg/dl are extremely high. A blood sugar level of at least 190 mg/dl is considered extremely high.
HDL cholesterol
Doctors advise that HDL levels be kept high. A blood sugar level of less than 40 mg/dl may indicate a risk of heart disease.
Doctors regard a blood sugar level of 4159 mg/dl to be borderline low. HDL values of 60 mg/dl or greater are considered optimal.
Cholesterol levels for children
Total cholesterol levels in children should be less than 170 mg/dl, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A value of 200 mg/dl or more is considered high. The borderline high range is 170199 mg/dl.
LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 110 milligrams per deciliter. Any reading over 130 mg/dl is considered high. The borderline high range is 110129 mg/dl.
Other factors that affect blood cholesterol
Some health issues and lifestyle factors, according to the CDC, can boost cholesterol levels. Type 2 diabetes, for example, elevates LDL cholesterol levels, as does familial hypercholesterolemia, according to the study.
According to the CDC, a high-saturated-fat diet combined with a lack of exercise may contribute to high cholesterol levels.
Furthermore, it recognizes that having a family member with high cholesterol raises one’s risk.