Your cholesterol levels can be influenced by many factors, including diet, weight, physical activity, heredity, sex, and age. HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where it's passed from the body. A high level of LDL cholesterol reflects an increased risk of heart disease. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and in the body. An excess amount of triglycerides is linked to coronary artery disease.
Elevated triglycerides can be a consequence of other diseases, such as untreated diabetes.
Blood cholesterol levels are important indicators for heart disease, the leading cause of death among American women. Your cholesterol levels can be influenced by many factors, including diet, weight, physical activity, heredity, sex, and age. The American Heart Association recommends that women have their cholesterol checked every five years. Cholesterol screening is particularly important for people with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure or stroke. Cholesterol levels can be tested with a simple blood test.