Although your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to make cell membranes, hormones and bile, too much cholesterol in your blood can lead to a stroke or heart disease. Cholesterol comes in multiple forms, and not all forms have the same effect on your health. Your HDL/LDL ratio looks at the relative amounts of two of the most important forms of cholesterol as a way of assessing your overall cardiovascular health.
What is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?
Your HDL to LDL ratio is important because HDL and LDL cholesterol have different effects on your risk of developing a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is caused by cholesterol building up in your arterial walls in masses known as plaques, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains. These plaques can make your arteries hard and restrict blood flow. LDL cholesterol, also known as low-density lipoprotein, is associated with plaque formation. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, is known as the "good" cholesterol because it is responsible for transporting excess cholesterol out of the blood.
Ratios
Your HDL to LDL ratio can be calculated by looking at the results from a lipid profile, which is a blood test that measures the different kinds of cholesterol in your blood. To calculate your ratio, you need to divide your HDL cholesterol levels by your LDL levels. For example, if you have an HDL level of 50 mg per dL of blood and LDL levels of 150 mg per dL of blood, your ratio is 0.33. The higher your ratio, the better: an ideal ratio is above 0.4, EMedTV states.
Interpretation
Scientists and doctors are divided as to the importance of your HDL to LDL ratio, EMedTV states. Your levels of HDL and LDL are both important for calculating your risk of developing cardiovascular problems, and high LDL levels may be partially offset by elevated HDL levels, which will cause your ratio to be in an acceptable range. On the other hand, your doctor will probably look more at your absolute LDL and HDL numbers when making treatment decisions, the Mayo Clinic explains, because some treatments are more effective at changing your LDL or HDL numbers than others.
Treatment Options
If you have a poor HDL to LDL ratio, raising this ratio will help lower your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Quitting smoking and reducing your trans fat consumption will increase your HDL levels. You can also lower your LDL levels by getting more exercise, reducing your saturated fat and cholesterol intake and losing excess weight, the American Heart Association notes. Depending on your HDL and LDL levels, you doctor may also prescribe different medications, such as statins, niacin or fibrates to increase your ratio.
