Lipid Profile

What are risk factors (in addition to high LDL-C) for coronary heart disease?

Risk factors include:

• Cigarette smoking
• Age (if you are a male 45 years or older or a female 55 years or older)
• Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L))
• Hypertension (Blood Pressure of 140/90 or higher or taking high blood pressure medications)
• Family history of premature heart disease (heart disease in a first degree male relative under age 55 or a first degree female relative under age 65)
• Diabetes

Note: High HDL (60 mg/dL or above) is considered a "negative risk factor" and its presence allows the removal of one risk factor from the total.