Protect your heart by tracking and optimizing your lipid profile
Understanding and managing cholesterol is one of the most powerful things you can do for long-term heart health. Track your levels, see what works, and prevent cardiovascular disease.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance in your blood needed for building cells and making hormones. However, too much of the wrong kind can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease and stroke. Your lipid panel measures four key numbers: total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides.
LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol to your arteries where it can build up as plaque. Optimal LDL is below 100 mg/dL (below 70 mg/dL if you have heart disease). HDL cholesterol removes excess cholesterol from your arteries. Higher is better - aim for above 40 mg/dL for men, 50 mg/dL for women. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood - optimal is below 150 mg/dL.
Total cholesterol should ideally be below 200 mg/dL. However, this number alone doesn't tell the whole story - you could have high total cholesterol with excellent HDL and low LDL, which is much healthier than low total cholesterol with poor HDL/LDL ratio.
High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Most heart disease is preventable with early awareness and management of cholesterol levels.
Track how dietary changes (less saturated fat, more fiber, omega-3s) affect your cholesterol levels. See what actually works for your body.
Exercise, weight loss, and quitting smoking all improve cholesterol. Tracking shows you the tangible benefits of your healthy choices.
If you take statins or other cholesterol medications, tracking shows whether they're working and helps your healthcare provider adjust doses.
High cholesterol has no symptoms. Regular testing is the only way to know if you're at risk before serious damage occurs.
If heart disease runs in your family, aggressive cholesterol management can dramatically reduce your genetic risk.
ExaHealth gives you the tools and insights to manage your health effectively
Track total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and calculated ratios (total/HDL, LDL/HDL) over time. See your full cardiovascular picture.
Log dietary changes and see how they affect your lipid panels. Discover which foods help or hurt your specific cholesterol profile.
Visualize your cholesterol trends over months and years. Celebrate improvements and catch concerning trends early.
Our AI calculates your 10-year cardiovascular risk based on cholesterol and other factors. Get personalized insights on where to focus your efforts.
Get a lipid panel at least every 5 years starting at age 20 (more often if you have risk factors)
Fast for 9-12 hours before cholesterol testing for most accurate results
Eat a heart-healthy diet: lots of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and minimize trans fats and saturated fats
Exercise at least 150 minutes per week - it raises HDL (good cholesterol)
Maintain a healthy weight - losing just 5-10% of body weight can improve cholesterol
Quit smoking - it lowers HDL and damages artery walls
Limit alcohol - excessive drinking raises triglycerides
Choose healthy fats: olive oil, avocados, nuts, fatty fish instead of butter and red meat
Increase soluble fiber (oats, beans, apples, psyllium) - it lowers LDL
If prescribed statins, take them consistently - they work best with daily use
Get your cholesterol checked 6-8 weeks after starting medications or making major lifestyle changes
General guidelines: Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL, LDL below 100 mg/dL (below 70 if you have heart disease), HDL above 40 mg/dL for men or 50 for women, triglycerides below 150 mg/dL. However, targets vary based on your overall cardiovascular risk, age, and existing conditions.
Yes - genetics play a major role. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition causing very high LDL regardless of lifestyle. Some people produce more cholesterol than their body can eliminate. Lifestyle matters enormously, but genetics determine your baseline.
It depends on your overall cardiovascular risk, not just cholesterol numbers. Your healthcare provider considers your age, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, and family history. Someone with slightly high cholesterol plus multiple risk factors may benefit more from statins than someone with higher cholesterol but no other risks.
Dietary cholesterol (in eggs, shrimp) has less impact on blood cholesterol than once thought. Saturated and trans fats in your diet affect blood cholesterol more than dietary cholesterol itself. Your liver produces most of your blood cholesterol.
High triglycerides often result from excess calories (especially from sugar and refined carbs), excess alcohol, obesity, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome. They're also genetic for some people. High triglycerides independently increase heart disease risk and often improve dramatically with weight loss and carbohydrate reduction.
ExaHealth tracks your lipid panel results over time, helps you correlate diet and lifestyle changes with cholesterol changes, reminds you when it's time for retesting, and generates reports for your healthcare provider. We make it easy to see what's working and stay accountable to your heart health goals.
Start tracking your cholesterol and lipid profiles with ExaHealth. Get insights that help you protect your heart for the long term. Free for individuals and families.
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