The two most important predictors for developing coronary heart diseases are low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. High levels of LDL will increase your risk of heart disease, and very low levels of HDL can also increase your risk for heart disease. However, high levels of HDL can protect your heart against disease. The NHLBI indicates other risk factors such as smoking tobacco, high-fat diet, obesity and lack of exercise need to be modified to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
What Is LDL Cholesterol?
LDL contains the greatest amounts of cholesterol, says the NHLBI. LDL is considered "bad" cholesterol because it transports the cholesterol and deposits it into the artery walls. People with high levels of LDL are at risk for heart attacks, stroke and even death, says NHLBI. Low-density lipoproteins are measured in the blood as milligrams per deciliter, and the results are shown as "mg/dL." NHLBI's clinical guidelines for everyone recommends LDL levels less than 100 mg/dL.
What is HDL Cholesterol?
HDL has become known as the "good" cholesterol because it can take excess cholesterol away from the cells in the artery walls and transports it back to the liver to be reprocessed or removed from the body. People with higher levels of HDL have lower rates of heart disease, according to the NHLBI. High-density lipoproteins are measured in the blood as milligrams per deciliter, and the results are shown as "mg/dL." NHLBI's clinical guidelines for everyone recommend HDL levels greater than 60 mg/dL.
LDL Cholesterol Risk Categories
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute classifies your cholesterol results into risk categories. Your blood test results will show your LDL measurement and the risk category of your LDL. Risk categories for LDL are as follows: 100 to 129 is "near optimal," a result of 130 to 159 is "borderline high," a result of 160 to 189 is "high" and a result of 190 or greater is "very high." Your physician will review your results and evaluate other major risk factors, such as smoking tobacco, high blood pressure, low HDL levels, family history of heart disease and your age to determine the best way to treat your LDL cholesterol.
HDL Cholesterol Risk Category
Your blood test results will show your HDL measurement and the risk category of your HDL. A high-risk category for HDL is less than 40mg/dL. Your physician will review your results and evaluate possible reasons for a low HDL --- excess fat; triglycerides levels, which are the fatty substances in your blood; blood pressure; and glucose levels --- to determine the best way to increase your HDL to optimal levels. However, your physician will focus on your LDL levels first, then your HDL levels.
Cardiac Risk Ratio
If you are 20 years or older and you do not have heart disease or diabetes, you can estimate your percent level of risk for having a heart attack over the next ten years. The National Cholesterol Education Program provides an online calculator to enter your age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and whether or not you smoke to estimate your percent level risk for having a heart attack over the next ten years.
