A recent test of my cholesterol left me wondering what all the numbers and acronyms meant.
After some careful research here is what I found: The main numbers that a standard cholesterol blood test focus are are the cholesterol ratio, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and blood pressure.
You really want less than 200 mg/dL of total blood cholesterol and you are considered high risk if it is over 240.
LDL Cholesterol level Your LDL should measure less than 159 to be considered not at risk, and if it is 160-189 it is high and 190 or over is very high.
LDL affects your risk of heart attack or stroke, so the lower it is, the better.
HDL Cholesterol level HDL - also known as the "good" cholesterol, should not be too low.
Having it too low puts you at a high risk of heart disease.
If it measures below 40, this is too low.
40 to 60 is a good range for women, while men should be in the 40 to 50 range.
The Cholesterol Ratio Ideally, the ratio of HDL to LDL should be 4:1, keeping it under 5:1 for less risk of heart disease.
Total Cholesterol As mentioned above, the total number should not be greater than 240, and if you have a total count less than 200, you are considered much less risk for heart disease, stroke or heart attack.
If your counts are higher than recommended, you should consult your doctor, and look at a diet low in saturated fat, and increase fiber and exercise.
This will reduce your risk for many health issues.
After some careful research here is what I found: The main numbers that a standard cholesterol blood test focus are are the cholesterol ratio, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and blood pressure.
You really want less than 200 mg/dL of total blood cholesterol and you are considered high risk if it is over 240.
LDL Cholesterol level Your LDL should measure less than 159 to be considered not at risk, and if it is 160-189 it is high and 190 or over is very high.
LDL affects your risk of heart attack or stroke, so the lower it is, the better.
HDL Cholesterol level HDL - also known as the "good" cholesterol, should not be too low.
Having it too low puts you at a high risk of heart disease.
If it measures below 40, this is too low.
40 to 60 is a good range for women, while men should be in the 40 to 50 range.
The Cholesterol Ratio Ideally, the ratio of HDL to LDL should be 4:1, keeping it under 5:1 for less risk of heart disease.
Total Cholesterol As mentioned above, the total number should not be greater than 240, and if you have a total count less than 200, you are considered much less risk for heart disease, stroke or heart attack.
If your counts are higher than recommended, you should consult your doctor, and look at a diet low in saturated fat, and increase fiber and exercise.
This will reduce your risk for many health issues.