The results of a cholesterol test reveal a great deal about your cardiovascular health -- if you understand the numbers and their significance. If you find yourself confused by the abbreviations in your scores and baffled by why your total cholesterol level does not equal the sum of individual readings, you're not alone. Fortunately, a few simple explanations can help you understand your test results and determine whether changes in your diet and lifestyle will prove beneficial.
Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Your cholesterol test results include four numbers: your LDL or low-density lipoporotein cholesterol; your HDL or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; your triglycerides; and your total cholesterol. Your LDL cholesterol, often called the "bad" cholesterol, tends to accumulate in your arteries. When your arteries get clogged, blood flows less easily to your heart and other vital organs. This deprives your organs of adequate amounts of oxygen, making them susceptible to disease. Your HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, helps combat the problem by pushing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, another type of blood fat, out of your system. Your total cholesterol, based on a formula rather than simple addition, provides you with an important measurement of heart health.
Total Cholesterol Calculations
To understand your total cholesterol calculation, add your LDL and HDL levels and 20 percent of your triglycerides. If, for instance, your LDL measures 80 mg/dl and your HDL measures 50 md/dl, you would get a subtotal of 130 mg/dl. If your triglycerides measure 150 md/dl, you would add 30 -- 20 percent -- to your subtotal. Your total cholesterol would measure 160 mg -- calculated by adding 80 + 50 + 30. Your test reveals the amount of cholesterol measured in milligrams -- mg -- per deciliter -- dl -- or blood.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
A healthy total cholesterol measures 200 mg/dl or less. Your risk for a heart attack or stroke increases dramatically if your levels test higher than 200 mg/dl. The American Heart Association estimates that your risk of developing heart disease doubles if your total cholesterol reaches 240 mg/dl. Other factors, including your age, gender and family history of heart disease, affect your risk. You also face higher risk if you smoke, drink more than one or two alcoholic beverages daily, weigh more than you should or fail to exercise regularly. Medical conditions such as diabetes also make you more susceptible to heart disease.
Considerations
To improve your cholesterol results -- or keep them at heart-healthy levels -- follow a diet that limits unhealthy fats and sugar and adds fiber. Eat less saturated fat, found in animal products and tropical oils, and eat little or no trans fat, found in margarine and shortening. Avoid commercial baked goods that may contain both trans fat and sugar. Substitute olive oil and canola oil for butter, margarine and shortening in cooking. You can also obtain heart-healthy oils from consuming fish several times a week and including a handful of nuts in your daily diet. You can add more fiber to your diet by eating whole grains -- oatmeal and multigrain bread, for instance -- as well as fruits, vegetables and beans.
References
- • • Harvard Health Publications; What Cholesterol Test Should You Get?; November 2004
- • MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol; June 2010
- • American Heart Association; What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean; April 1011
- • MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
