Although cholesterol tests provide a single, bottom-line number (total cholesterol), it's important to keep an eye on four other important levels of cholesterol in order to reduce your risk of heart disease. Knowing and understanding all five numbers will help you stay heart healthy.
Step 1
Have a cholesterol test done. You can either choose to have a lipid panel (group of tests) conducted, or use a home-test that provides only your total cholesterol number. A full lipid panel is more accurate. For either test, you will want to fast 9 to 12 hours prior to the test.
Step 2
Measure total cholesterol. Your total cholesterol should be the first number on the results sheet you are given and will be shown in mg/dL. A total cholesterol number of 151 would read 151 mg/dL on your chart. If your total cholesterol is less than 200, you are at a relatively low risk of coronary heart disease (if your LDL, HDL and triglycerides are also all in healthy ranges). Use these ranges to measure your total cholesterol ranges:
Less than 200 mg/dL: Desirable
200--239 mg/dL: Borderline-high risk
240 mg/dL and over: High risk
Step 3
Measure HDL. High-density lipoproteins are considered good cholesterol. The optimal measurement for giving some protection against heart disease is 60 mg/dL. In men, HDL levels average from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. Less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women put you at higher risk for heart disease.
Step 4
Measure LDL. Low-density lipoproteins are considered your bad cholesterol. It's actually a better measurement of heart disease and stroke risk than total cholesterol. Use these ranges to measure your LDL ranges:
Less than 100 mg/dL: Optimal
100 -129: Near optimal and above
130-159: Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL: High
190 and above: Very high
Step 5
Measure triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat and often an indicator of overall cholesterol ranges (if your triglycerides are high or low, your other four readings will be high or low). Use these ranges to measure your triglyceride ranges:
Less than 150: Normal
150--199: Borderline-high
200--499: High
500: Very high
Step 6
Measure TC/HDL. Your TC/HDL ratio is the proportion of your total cholesterol over your HDL. An acceptable ratio of TC/HDL is 4.5 or below for men and 4.0 or below for women.
Tips and Warnings
- A cholesterol test is quick and inexpensive, providing testing and results while you wait at many hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. If your in-office test shows negative results, you should consider having a full lipid panel sent to a lab, which will provide a slightly more accurate reading.
Things You'll Need
- Cholesterol test
- Cholesterol test results
