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Published on: Nov 03, 2021
3 minute read
By: Second Medic Expert

What Should My Cholesterol Level Be At My Age?

What should my cholesterol level be at my age?

For healthy people (especially under the age of 20), the optimal cholesterol level is total cholesterol of less than 200mg/dL, LDL cholesterol of less than 130mg/dL. Anything over that should be approached cautiously and you may want to work with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of action. Based on your health condition, lifestyle habits, family history, and more, they may recommend supplementing your diet with specific high-quality plant sterols which - after some time - can decrease LDL particles in the blood gradually through lowering blood triglyceride levels. This might not be necessary for everyone but it never hurts to listen to expert advice.

A person's cholesterol level should be measured after fasting, or after not eating for 12-14 hours. If you are male, your total blood cholesterol should be below 200 milligrams per deciliter, while females can have a high of 220 milligrams per deciliter. Some people have to modify their diet to lower their levels.

Half of the population will need less than or equal to 200 mg/dL, while the other half will need more than 200 mg/dL. Having said that - it is best if these numbers are as close together as possible; higher HDLs and LDLs would mean better heart health conditions overall (and lower cardiovascular risk).

Your total cholesterol should not exceed 200.

This number is the sum of your HDL, LDL, and VLDL. The AHA Recommendations state that LDL levels below 160 are recommended for people with CAD (coronary artery disease) or who have one risk factor for heart attack or stroke. If you do not have CAD or risk factors for heart attack or stroke, LDL levels below 130 are recommended to maintain healthy coronary arteries. If you have a high level of HDL then a slightly higher range may be appropriate depending on what kind of diet and lifestyle choices you make. So start by looking at your total cholesterol – which can be found through a regular blood test – and work from there to meet the optimal goals set out

Lipids are used by the body to store energy. Cholesterol is needed for certain cells in the body, including neurons, and it's used to make certain hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Low levels of cholesterol can be dangerous because they can result in mood swings, abdominal cramps (due to inadequate digestive function), breathing difficulties (due to insufficient cell membrane fluidity) or muscle or joint pain (if they are not maintained). For most people, there's no issue with cholesterol levels around 240mg/dL.

The value of cholesterol is measured in the bloodstream by looking at the ratio between "low-density lipoprotein" (LDL) and "high-density lipoproteins" (HDL). The ideal level is to have high ratios or an HDL that is two times as high as LDL. A number like 170/120 would represent an excellent ratio for someone your age.

Lower levels can lead to elevated triglycerides, which are unhealthy fats found in blood, liver, heart muscle cells, and adipose tissue; small bumps on red blood cells; fatty scars inside coronary artery walls; arteriosclerosis; decreased regulation of blood sugar control in diabetes patients - all mechanisms that increase the risk for strokes. Your cholesterol level should be higher the older you get. Your children have a more diverse pool of cholesterol, so their levels won't necessarily be as high as yours will. To keep our cells thriving and healthy, we need a certain amount of this neutral lipid molecule in order to maintain a stable membrane around each cell that separates the inside from the outside. In some ways, an appropriate balance is necessary because too much cholesterol can clog your arteries or cause health problems for those with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Generally, a good cholesterol level is 150mg/dL or lower. And this number becomes even more important when it's been consistently that way for many years. If there are any changes over the years, let your physician know so they can investigate any unanticipated health problems.

A low cholesterol level can protect against heart diseases by decreasing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol particles and preventing them from sticking to artery walls. Plus, HDL or high-density lipoprotein increases with decreases in dietary fat, so limiting the fat intake will also lead to decreased oxidized LDLs and unclogging arteries due to less fatty plaque build up on the lining of blood vessels. Bottom line: eat right and exercise!

Appropriate cholesterol levels vary quite widely, making the blanket “200 is healthy” sound like more of a guideline than anything. It can go up to 600 mg/dL (nanomoles per liter), but usually only if there are other health issues present. There are complications to hypercholesterolemia or excessively high cholesterol, but it's difficult for an individual to know at what point they've crossed the threshold without consulting their doctor for more details about their specific health situation.

There's no easy answer to this question. It depends on your diet, weight, and genetics. For most people, the cholesterol levels rise about 20-30?tween the ages of 20 and 65. After that time period, they usually start decreasing slowly until they reach 200-300mg/dL at about 85-90 years old (depending on various factors). Sometimes higher than optimal HDL cholesterol may be associated with more longevity.

More Information: Cholesterol is found in two forms - high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which are both types of "good" cholesterol; there is also referred to as "bad" cholesterol because LDL can cause plaque buildup in arteries.

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Virtual Clinic India: How SecondMedic Is Transforming Digital Healthcare

Healthcare in India is undergoing a significant transformation as digital platforms reshape how people access medical care. Virtual clinics have emerged as a powerful solution, offering patients immediate access to doctors, diagnostics, prescriptions, and continuous monitoring—without the need for physical hospital visits. This model has become increasingly important in a country where population density, geographical barriers, and long wait times often make healthcare inaccessible or inconvenient.

A virtual clinic uses telemedicine, digital records, online diagnostics, AI tools, and remote monitoring to offer a full healthcare experience through smartphones or computers. SecondMedic is among the leaders in this space, providing a robust virtual clinic ecosystem designed to support preventive health, chronic disease management, and immediate care for everyday medical needs.

The Role of Virtual Clinics in India’s Healthcare Evolution

India faces significant challenges including uneven specialist distribution, crowded hospitals, and rising lifestyle diseases. Virtual clinics bridge these gaps by making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and continuous. They enable patients from metropolitan areas, rural communities, and even remote regions to receive quality care without leaving home.

Key drivers behind virtual clinic growth include:

Growing smartphone and internet penetration
Increased comfort with digital health platforms
The need for safe and convenient care
Rising chronic illnesses requiring ongoing monitoring
Awareness of preventive healthcare

As a result, virtual clinics are becoming the first point of contact for many health concerns.

How Virtual Clinics Deliver Complete Healthcare

Virtual clinics are more than video consultations. They integrate multiple components of healthcare into a unified digital experience. SecondMedic’s virtual clinic model ensures continuity of care by bringing together doctors, diagnostics, monitoring tools, pharmacy support, and digital health records.

Core pillars of virtual clinic care include:

Instant doctor access
Seamless diagnostic testing
AI-based symptom evaluation
E-prescriptions
Medication delivery
Chronic disease monitoring
Preventive health programs

This creates an end-to-end flow that mirrors the experience of visiting a physical clinic, but with added convenience and personalization.

Online Consultations: Immediate Access to Specialists

One of the strongest features of a virtual clinic is the ability to consult qualified doctors quickly. Instead of waiting days for appointments or traveling long distances, patients can connect with specialists through secure video calls or chat.

Virtual consultations are especially useful for:

Common illnesses
Follow-up appointments
Second opinions
Chronic condition management
Mental health support
Elderly care
Pediatric queries

SecondMedic ensures that all consultations are supported by electronic health records, making the experience seamless and informed.

Digital Diagnostics and At-Home Lab Testing

Diagnostics are a core component of healthcare, and virtual clinics have made them significantly more accessible. Users can book lab tests online and have samples collected from their home. Results are delivered digitally, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment.

Advantages of digital diagnostics include:

No travel or waiting lines
Fast report turnaround
Integration with doctor consultations
Easy follow-up and comparisons over time
Better compliance for chronic disease tracking

SecondMedic partners with certified diagnostic labs to ensure high-quality test processing and accurate digital reporting.

Remote Monitoring and Chronic Disease Care

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart illness, and thyroid disorders require ongoing monitoring. Virtual clinics use connected devices and AI-driven alerts to help patients stay on track with their health goals.

Common remote monitoring tools include:

Glucometers
Blood pressure monitors
Heart-rate trackers
Pulse oximeters
Weight and BMI tools
Sleep monitors
Wearable sensors

SecondMedic uses advanced analytics to detect risk patterns early, send reminders, and support long-term condition management.

E-Prescriptions and Digital Pharmacy Support

Virtual clinics simplify the process of receiving medical prescriptions and ordering medicines. E-prescriptions are accurate, tamper-proof, and instantly shareable with online pharmacies.

Digital pharmacy support helps with:

Medication delivery
Monthly chronic care refills
Transparent drug information
Avoiding prescription errors
Improving medication adherence

SecondMedic integrates e-prescriptions directly with its pharmacy partners, making the treatment process seamless.

Preventive Healthcare Through Virtual Clinics

Preventive care is becoming a priority for many Indians due to rising lifestyle diseases and increasing awareness of early screening. Virtual clinics support this need through personalized health plans designed using AI assessments, digital screenings, and doctor insights.

Preventive healthcare offerings include:

Annual full-body checkups
Lifestyle assessments
Diet and fitness plans
Stress and sleep guidance
Vaccination reminders
Long-term wellness tracking

SecondMedic’s preventive programs are designed to detect risks early and help users adopt healthier habits.

How Virtual Clinics Improve Healthcare Accessibility in India

Virtual clinics remove geographical barriers by bringing medical care to people who otherwise face difficulty accessing doctors. This includes:

Rural regions with limited healthcare facilities
Urban areas with long hospital wait times
Elderly individuals who cannot travel easily
Busy professionals needing flexible care
Patients seeking discretion for sensitive concerns

With increased digital literacy and affordable smartphones, virtual clinics are becoming accessible to a wide demographic.

The Future of Virtual Clinics in India

The future of virtual clinics is strong, supported by national initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which encourages digital health adoption. AI-driven diagnostics, intelligent triaging, predictive health tools, and integrated hospital systems will further strengthen the virtual care model.

Upcoming trends include:

AI chat-based symptom evaluation
Virtual reality rehabilitation sessions
Smart device-linked monitoring
AI-based early disease detection
Comprehensive preventive health ecosystems
Hybrid care combining virtual and in-clinic visits

SecondMedic is actively developing next-generation virtual clinic technologies to make healthcare more proactive and patient-centered.

Conclusion

Virtual clinics are revolutionizing healthcare delivery in India by offering convenient, reliable, and digitally connected care. They bring together consultations, diagnostics, monitoring, and preventive health in one platform, reducing barriers and enabling patients to receive high-quality medical support anytime, anywhere. SecondMedic leads this transformation with a comprehensive virtual clinic model designed to support long-term health and wellbeing.

To access virtual consultations, digital diagnostics, and remote care services, visit www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog - Telemedicine and Digital Health Report 2024
Statista - Telehealth Usage India 2025
WHO - Digital Health Standards
IMARC - India Telemedicine Market Forecast
ABDM - Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Guidelines

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