Cholesterol levels provide good indicators of your risk for heart disease. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease, while high levels of HDL cholesterol may reduce this risk. Even if you have a high total cholesterol number, a low ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol may indicate a low risk for heart disease. Low levels of HDL cholesterol, however, may increase your risk for heart disease.
Types of Cholesterol
Two types of proteins carry cholesterol in the body: high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as "good" cholesterol, soaks up excess cholesterol in the arteries and delivers it to the liver for removal from the body. LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol, contributes to the unhealthy buildup of plaque in the blood vessels.
Cholesterol Ratio
A low ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol indicates a lower your risk for heart disease than a high ratio, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. If you have a total cholesterol of 220 mg/dL, for example, and an HDL cholesterol of 70 mg/dL, you have a total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio of 3.1 to 1. For men, a ratio of 5 to1 indicates an average risk for heart disease, while a ratio of 3.4 to 1 indicates half the average risk and a ratio of 9.6 to 1 indicates double the average risk, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. For women, a ratio of 4.4 to 1 indicates an average risk, while a ratio of 3.3 to 1 indicates half the average risk and a ratio of 7 to1 indicates twice the average risk.
HDL Cholesterol Levels
HDL cholesterol levels of 60 mg/dL and above may provide protection against heart disease, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. For women, HDL cholesterol levels below 50 mg/dL may increase the risk for heart disease, and, for men, HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL may increase the risk, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Increasing HDL Cholesterol
Making changes to your lifestyle can help you increase your HDL cholesterol. Quitting smoking can boost your HDL cholesterol by 10 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic. Losing weight can increase your HDL cholesterol by as much as 1 mg/dL for every 6 lbs. lost. For sedentary adults, adding regular aerobic exercise to their routines can increase HDL cholesterol levels by about 5 percent. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in fish, olive oils and nuts can improve the anti-inflammatory power of HDL cholesterol and may also improve LDL cholesterol levels.
