Cholesterol is a wax-like substance that your body uses for production of cellular tissues, nerve protection and production of developmental, growth and reproductive hormones. In order to determine cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease, physicians will often check high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, as well as triglycerides and lipid profile. Knowing your cholesterol levels can help assess cardiac risk. Normal levels indicate a healthy cholesterol level and a decreased risk of cardiac disease.
Cholesterol
Your liver creates all the cholesterol your body needs, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The body stores extra cholesterol from fatty foods in the arteries as plaque. Plaque buildup can narrow the arteries and cause blockages leading to heart attack and stroke. People often hear the terms LDL and HDL when looking at their cholesterol levels. LDL and HDL are not the type of cholesterol but the bundles through which cholesterol travels.
Low-Density Lipoproteins
LDL, or low-density lipoproteins, are harmful lipoproteins that deliver cholesterol to the body. An LDL level of less than 100 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL, is optimal, especially for those who have previously had a coronary event. A level of 100 to 129 mg/dL is near optimal, according to Lab Tests Online. An LDL of 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high and 160 mg/dL indicates a higher risk for heart disease.
High-density Lipoproteins
High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, are healthy because they help remove cholesterol by soaking up excess cholesterol from the walls of vessels and carrying it to the liver. The liver breaks down this excess cholesterol and removes it from the body in bile. An HDL of 60 mg/dL or greater means a greatly reduced likelihood of heart disease, and anything under 40 mg/dL means a greater risk for heart disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Total Cholesterol
A total cholesterol test measures all cholesterol in your blood. A total cholesterol level is often part of a routine screening along with HDL and LDL levels to help your physician assess heart disease risk. Lab Tests Online explains that the optimal level of total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or less. A total cholesterol level of 200 to 239 mg/dL can indicate a moderate risk for developing heart disease. Patients who have a total cholesterol level of greater or equal to 240 mg/dL are at high risk for a coronary event.
Cholesterol Ratio
Many physicians will also calculate your cholesterol ratio. While your cholesterol ratio can help determine risk for coronary heart disease, it doesn't help physicians determine which course of treatment works best for you. The Mayo Clinic explains that you can calculate your cholesterol ratio by dividing your HDL, or good cholesterol, into your total cholesterol. So a person who has a total cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL and an HDL of 25 would have a cholesterol ratio of 8 to 1. A ratio of 4 to 1 or lower is ideal.
