Cholesterol is a fatty biomolecule that is obtained from food sources or is made by the body from ingested dietary fats, particularly saturated and trans fats. Appropriate levels of cholesterol are important to health. Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham explain this is because they help maintain the integrity of cell membranes, and the body uses them to make some hormones and vitamin D. High levels of cholesterol, however, lead to heart disease, notes MayoClinic.com. As such, physicians routinely test patients' cholesterol levels. Patients can read their own cholesterol screening results if they get a copy.
Reading Test Results
Step 1
Read the total cholesterol level from the screening results. Total cholesterol is measured in mg of cholesterol per dL of blood, and values tend to vary from just over 100 mg/dL to more than 300 mg/dL. While total cholesterol isn't the best assessment of cardiovascular health, it provides a gross mechanism for assessing cholesterol status rapidly. The American Heart Association, or AHA, notes that healthy total values are those less than 200 mg/dL, while values greater than 240 mg/dL are high and unhealthy.
Step 2
Read the LDL, or low-density lipoprotein value. LDL is "bad" cholesterol, and levels should be as low as possible. The AHA recommends that LDL values be under 100 mg/dL for optimal health. Values over 160 mg/dL are high, and values over 190 mg/dL are very high and indicate greater risk for heart disease and atherosclerosis. A high total cholesterol with a high LDL value indicates particularly high risk for heart disease.
Step 3
Read the HDL, or high-density lipoprotein value. HDL is "good" cholesterol, and levels should be as high as possible. The AHA recommends that HDL values be above 60 mg/dL for optimal health. Values less than 40 mg/dL for men, or less than 50 mg/dL for women, are low and indicate increase risk of heart disease. High HDL levels are so important that even though they raise total cholesterol, they're still desirable.
Step 4
Read the triglyceride value. Triglycerides, which are free fats in the blood, have a negative impact on cardiovascular health. Levels should be as low as possible. The AHA recommends that triglycerides be less than 150 mg/dL for optimal health. Values over 200 mg/dL are high, and values over 500 mg/dL are very high. The AHA advises that individuals with very high levels of triglycerides have greater risk for heart disease and atherosclerosis.
Tips and Warnings
- Total cholesterol is the sum of LDL, HDL, and one-third of triglycerides.
- Total cholesterol is less important than individual LDL, HDL, and triglyceride values. Patients who have high total cholesterol, with low LDL and triglycerides and high HDL, should not attempt to lower HDL in order to lower total cholesterol.
Things You'll Need
- Cholesterol screening results
References
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
- MayoClinic.com: Cholesterol
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol Levels
