High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in America. Nearly 17 percent of Americans have high blood cholesterol. An excess of either total or LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol increases the risk for heart disease drastically. Cholesterol comes naturally from the body and from some foods. The majority of excess cholesterol comes from the diet. Ask your physician for a cholesterol screening so that you may calculate your cholesterol levels.
Step 1
Attain a copy of your cholesterol report from your physician. Look for the section containing the info about your LDL levels. Less then 100 mg/dl is optimal, 100 to 129 mg/dl is above optimal, 130 to 159 is borderline high, 160 to 189 is high, and above 189 is very high.
Step 2
Find the section containing your HDL (high-density lipoproteins). Low levels of HDL put you at greater risk of heart disease. HDL is responsible for removing the LDL from the blood stream, thus preventing blockages from occurring in the arteries. Less than 40mg/dl is considered low for men, while under 50mg/dl is considered low for women. The average man has HDL levels between 40 to 50 mg/dl, while the average woman has HDL levels between 50 and 60 mg/dl.
Step 3
Add the LDL and HDL numbers together to get a total cholesterol reading. The American Heart Association recommends maintaining a total number below 200mg/dl. 200 to 239 mg/dl is borderline high risk, and above 240mg/dl is high risk.
Tips and Warnings
- An important and often overlooked consideration of cholesterol is the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol. Physicians will look for the ratio to be below 5 to 1, with a 3.5 to 1 considered the optimal ratio. To calculate cholesterol ratio, divide the total cholesterol by the HDL. The number that you come up with will be the first number in the ratio, while the second number will always be one.
- Consult your physician regarding your results, as only he can prescribe a plan to lower your cholesterol numbers if needed.
