Your blood cholesterol level is an important indicator of health and your risk for disorders such as heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol does not generally cause any symptoms, and individuals with this disorder may not be aware that they have it. Genetics and lifestyle factors play a role in high blood cholesterol levels and a blood test can help to determine a diagnosis. Three main types of cholesterol are tested: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL; high-density lipoprotein, or HDL; and very low-density lipoprotein, or VLDL. In addition, triglycerides, which are a type of lipid in the blood, are tested.
Step 1
Make an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss having your cholesterol levels checked. Schedule a blood test for a complete lipid panel screen. Follow the guidelines for fasting before the blood test.
Step 2
Review the results of the cholesterol test. Cholesterol levels will be shown in milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL. The total cholesterol level is the sum of all the types of cholesterol. Calculate this by adding the values of the HDL, LDL and VLDL cholesterol numbers. Calculate the VLDL value by dividing the triglyceride value by five.
Step 3
Find out what the numbers mean. A total cholesterol reading of 200 mg/dL or below is considered to be the desirable category. If total cholesterol is 239 mg/dL or below, your cholesterol is borderline high, and if it is 240 mg/dL or more, your blood cholesterol is high.
Step 4
Check your LDL levels, as this is a better indicator of whether you have high blood cholesterol. The LDL is the most prevalent cholesterol in the blood. A value less than 100 mg/dL is considered good.
Step 5
Look at the HDL cholesterol levels on the blood test results. HDL levels should be greater than 60 mg/dL for good cardiovascular health. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL value is important, as total cholesterol includes this good cholesterol and the unhealthy varieties. A lower number indicates healthier cholesterol levels; for example, a ratio of total cholesterol to HDL of 3.4 signifies half the average risk of heart disease while 5 indicates an average risk. Triglycerides are another type of unhealthy lipids in the blood that can reduce your HDL cholesterol. Triglyceride counts should be less than 150 mg/dL in healthy blood cholesterol levels.
Tips and Warnings
- Cholesterol levels may fluctuate due to illness, stress, medications and diet. It is important to fast before having the blood test to check lipid panels. Repeating the test every three months or as advised by your doctor is important.
- Harvard Medical School notes that in men, a total cholesterol to HDL ratio of 9.6 doubles the average risk of heart disease. Women tend to have higher HDL levels, so a ratio of 7 indicates twice the risk.
Things You'll Need
- Doctor's appointment
- Blood test
- Calculator
