What is A1C Levels / High Cholesterol?

Though perhaps it may not seem like it, people have been doing a better job of taking care of their health needs than any time at history. More diseases are recognized and diagnosed than ever before. Beyond that, there are more preventative measures and warning signs that allow early diagnosis of situations and preventative treatments. The bloodstream contains far more than just blood. Fat contained within the bloodstream is called cholesterol and sugar runs in the bloodstream. The inability to marginalize this sugar is called diabetes. Both can be serious medical issues and high cholesterol is a main facet of Diabetes as well.

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol has been a consistent issue with the 1960’s. Cholesterol is a form of fat running through the bloodstream. It’s cholesterol that will attach itself to artery walls and then harden, thinning the circumference of the artery. This is what causes heart attacks, and high cholesterol often leads to heart disease. There are multiple kinds of cholesterols. LDL cholesterol is considered the wrong kind of cholesterol. This is what builds up and blocks arteries. HDL cholesterol is considered the good form of cholesterol. This cholesterol actually prevents buildup in your arteries. The third kind is called Triglycerides.  They are measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter. We will just refer to the amounts in this piece. Overall, it’s hoped that you have less than 200 units of cholesterol. 240 and higher is considered to be high cholesterol. Somewhere in between those two levels is considered to be moderate risk levels. There are many factors which can change your cholesterol levels:

1. Body Weight - Unsurprisingly with cholesterol being fat in the blood, being overweight can increase cholesterol levels. Losing weight tends to decrease LDL while increasing HDL.
2. Genes - Nothing can be done about this. Just as some family lines contain the genes for vestigial tails, some contain the genes for high cholesterol.
3. Diet - Diet is usually the number one factor in high cholesterol. Generally cholesterol is raised from foods high in saturated fat. Reduce the saturated fat in your foot and reduce your blood cholesterol.
4. Exercise - Exercise has a double bonus. The exercise itself can help decrease LDL and increase HDL. Additionally it assists in weight loss, which as discussed above is another factor in cholesterol.
5. Age - When you get older your cholesterol increases. This especially applies for women after the completion of menopause.

A1C Levels

The A1C test measures blood glucose(sugar) levels. This test is meant as a map of your moderate term history of blood sugar levels. The A1C test measures the average blood sugar level of the past 3 months (with an emphasis on the most recent month). A1C levels are ranked as a percentage of blood cells coated in glucose. The percentage helps determine your diabetic level. 5.7% or less is considered normal. If you are over 6.5% then you are considered to have Diabetes. In the middle is what is called “prediabetes”. It’s the ability for diabetes to develop quite easily or potentially a predisposition for it.