September is National Cholesterol Education Month, making it a good time to ask a simple question:
Do you know your numbers?
High cholesterol usually has no obvious symptoms. You can feel perfectly fine while unhealthy cholesterol levels are contributing to plaque buildup in your arteries and increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s one reason regular cholesterol screening is an important part of Preventive Maintenance.
For professional drivers, staying ahead of potential health problems matters. You spend a lot of time taking care of the equipment that keeps you moving. Your own health deserves the same attention.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body needs to function. It helps your body make hormones and build healthy cells.
The problem is not cholesterol itself. The problem is having unhealthy levels of certain types of cholesterol and other fats circulating in your blood.
A standard cholesterol test, often called a lipid panel, typically measures:
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Total cholesterol
Your healthcare professional can help you understand what those numbers mean based on your age, health history, blood pressure, diabetes status, family history, tobacco use and other risk factors.
New 2026 guidelines also recommend that adults have lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), checked at least once in their lifetime. Lp(a) is largely inherited and can add to cardiovascular risk even when other cholesterol numbers look reasonable.
LDL: The Number to Pay Attention To
LDL is often called “bad” cholesterol because too much LDL circulating in your blood can contribute to plaque buildup inside your arteries.
Over time, that buildup can narrow the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
High LDL usually does not make you feel different.
That’s exactly why knowing your number matters.
There is not one ideal LDL target for everyone. Your healthcare professional can help determine the appropriate level for you based on your overall cardiovascular risk. Current guidelines increasingly look at the whole picture rather than a single number in isolation.
What About HDL?
HDL is commonly called “good” cholesterol because it helps transport cholesterol away from the arteries and back toward the liver.
Higher HDL levels are generally associated with lower cardiovascular risk, but HDL should not be treated as a standalone score or something you simply try to push above a certain number. Your overall risk and the rest of your lipid panel matter too.
Think of cholesterol as a dashboard rather than a single gauge.
What Can Affect Your Cholesterol?
Some factors are outside your control, including genetics, age and certain medical conditions.
But everyday habits matter too.
Eating patterns high in saturated and trans fats can raise LDL cholesterol. Saturated fat is commonly found in foods such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, butter and tropical oils including coconut and palm oil.
Healthier patterns generally emphasize:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Beans and legumes
- Nuts and seeds
- Lean proteins
- Unsaturated fats such as olive and canola oil
Regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco and maintaining other heart-healthy habits can also help improve cardiovascular health.
And sometimes healthy habits alone are not enough.
For people with certain risk factors or significantly elevated cholesterol, medication may be an important part of treatment. That decision should be made with a healthcare professional.
When Should You Get Checked?
All adults age 19 and older should have their cholesterol checked. How often you need testing after that depends on your results, age, health history and overall cardiovascular risk.
If you don’t know your numbers or can’t remember when you were last checked, that’s a good conversation to have with your healthcare professional.
Prevent Problems Before They Become Bigger Problems
This is what the Preventive Maintenance Axle is all about.
High cholesterol is a good example of why prevention matters. You may not feel anything happening, but knowing your numbers gives you the opportunity to act before a larger health problem forces your attention.
You don’t need to understand every number on your own.
You just need to know them, ask questions and take the next appropriate step.
Know your numbers. Take action early. Keep yourself road-ready for the life ahead.
Keep Your Preventive Maintenance Moving
Project 61 is a nonprofit spearheading the movement to help truck drivers live longer, healthier lives through awareness, education and free resources built for life on the road.
Download the free Project 61 Mobile App to access practical, driver-first tools across the 5 Axles of Health™: Fuel, Move, Recharge, Mental Drive and Preventive Maintenance.
Download the free Project 61 Mobile App here.