If you eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and still have high cholesterol, it can be frustrating to see an unexpected result on your blood work.
You might wonder what you’re doing wrong or whether there’s something else affecting your cholesterol levels.
The reality is that cholesterol is influenced by more than diet and exercise alone. Genetics, age, certain health conditions, medications and hormonal changes can all play a role.
Understanding what your results mean starts with looking at the bigger picture, including your overall health, medical history and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Why Is My Cholesterol High If I Eat Healthy?
Your body produces cholesterol naturally, primarily in the liver. While dietary habits can influence cholesterol levels, they aren’t the only factor involved.
Some people have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol, meaning their bodies may have more difficulty clearing LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. An underactive thyroid, diabetes, kidney conditions and certain medications can also affect cholesterol levels.
For women, cholesterol levels may change with age and around menopause.
This is why an elevated result doesn’t automatically mean you’re eating poorly or exercising too little. It may be worth investigating other contributing factors, particularly if your cholesterol remains high despite consistent healthy habits.
What Do My Cholesterol Numbers Actually Mean?
A cholesterol blood test, also called a lipid panel, typically measures several types of fats in your blood.
- LDL cholesterol: Often called “bad” cholesterol, LDL can contribute to plaque buildup in artery walls when levels are elevated.
- HDL cholesterol: Often called “good” cholesterol, HDL helps transport cholesterol away from tissues. It is considered alongside other results when assessing cardiovascular risk.
- Triglycerides: These are fats in your blood that store energy. Elevated levels can be associated with metabolic health concerns and increased cardiovascular risk.
These numbers shouldn’t be interpreted separately. Your age, blood pressure, family history, blood sugar, smoking status and existing health conditions all help determine what your results mean for your cardiovascular health.
A cholesterol result is useful information, but understanding your overall risk is what helps guide the next steps.
Should You Have More Blood Work?
Not necessarily. The first step is to review what has already been tested and determine whether the results raise questions that need further investigation.
For example, if cholesterol is elevated, your healthcare provider may consider whether thyroid function, blood sugar or other health factors warrant assessment. Your family history and medications may also provide important clues.
Additional testing should have a clear purpose. It isn’t about ordering every available test in the hope of finding an explanation. It’s about determining whether more information could change how your health concerns are managed.
Depending on your results and individual risk factors, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes, medication or further assessment. High cholesterol often has no noticeable symptoms, so appropriate follow-up matters even when you feel well.
How Can a Naturopathic Doctor Help With Cholesterol Concerns?
At Kleinburg Integrative Health, naturopathic care involves reviewing health concerns in the context of your individual history and circumstances.
During an assessment, your naturopathic doctor may review your existing blood work, nutrition, activity levels, medications, family history and relevant health concerns. Depending on your situation, they may also consider whether additional laboratory testing would provide useful information.
From there, recommendations can be tailored to the factors that are relevant to you. This may include nutrition and lifestyle guidance, with follow-up to assess progress.
Naturopathic care can complement your ongoing medical care. If your cholesterol is elevated, it’s important to discuss your cardiovascular risk and appropriate treatment options with your primary healthcare provider. Lifestyle measures can help, but some people also need cholesterol-lowering medication to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Understand Your Cholesterol Results in Context
If your cholesterol is high despite eating well and exercising regularly, you don’t need to assume you’re doing something wrong. The next step is to understand what may be contributing to your results and what actions are appropriate for your health.
At Kleinburg Integrative Health, naturopathic doctors take an individualized approach to health concerns, using your symptoms, medical history and relevant laboratory results to help guide next steps.