High density lipoprotein, or HDL, is considered the good cholesterol. HDL picks up extra cholesterol in the blood and transports it to the liver for processing. Low density lipoproteins, or LDL, is considered the bad cholesterol and is the main transporter of cholesterol in your body. The ratio of HDL to LDL is an indicator of heart disease risk; however, the efficacy of the ratio is somewhat unclear and most health professionals recommend using your absolute cholesterol levels.
Desirable Ratio
The ideal HDL/LDL ratio is above 0.4, but anything above .3 is considered acceptable. For instance, if you have a HDL level of 40 mg/dL and a LDL level of 100 mg/dL, your HDL/LDL ratio would be 40/100 or .4.
HDL Levels
Since HDL is considered the good lipoprotein and is important for removal of excess cholesterol from the blood, higher HDL levels are desirable. Having values less than 40 mg/dL is categorized as a major risk factor for heart disease, while levels greater than 60 mg/dL are considered to be heart-protective.
LDL Levels
Lower levels of LDL cholesterol are desirable since LDL is the culprit in arterial plaque build-up, or atherosclerosis. Less than 100 mg/dL is optimal and over 190 mg/dL is considered very high.
Screening Recommendations
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health recommend that all adults have a fasting blood lipoprotein profile screening once every five years. This blood test will require that you fast or abstain from food and liquid intake for 12 hours prior to the blood draw. A fasting blood test will not only provide total cholesterol levels, but also HDL and LDL levels.
