January 13, 2011
Today in Know Your Numbers, we tackle cholesterol! Every five years it's a good idea to get a fasting lipoprotein profile blood test which gives you the results for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides.
- Total cholesterol measures the total amount of LDL, HDL, and other lipid (fat) components in your blood (serum). A high total cholesterol may put you at twice as much risk of coronary heart disease than a level under 200 mg/dL.
- Less than 200 mg/dL -- desireable
- 200 - 239 mg/dL -- borderline high
- 240 mg/dL and above -- high
- HDL "Good" cholesterol protects against heart disease by removing "bad" cholesterol from your blood and preventing it from building up in your arteries. This number can be confusing because a higher number is better.
- 60 mg/dL -- desireable
- 40 mg/dl or lower (for men) -- risk factor for heart disease
- 50 mg/dL or lower (for women) -- risk factor for heart disease
- LDL "Bad" cholesterol can build up in your arteries and can be a major factor in heart disease. The lower your LDL number, the better.
- 100 mg/dL or less -- optimal
- 100 - 129 mg/dL -- near or above optimal
- 130 - 159 mg/dL -- borderline high
- 160 - 189 mg/dL -- high
- 190 mg/dL -- very high
- Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body and in food. A high triglyceride level can lead to coronary artery disease and is one of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Again, the lower the number the better.
- 150 mg/dL or less -- normal
- 150 - 199 mg/dL -- borderline high
- 200 - 499 mg/dL -- high
- 500 mg/dL -- very high
To get tested, ask your doctor for a fasting total lipoprotein profile. You will need to fast (that is, not eat or drink anything but water for 9 - 12 hours) and then get your blood drawn from your arm. Pease consult with your doctor when interpreting the test results and developing a treatment and prevention plan.
In the next Know Your Numbers: glucose and Vitamin D.
See also: Know Your Numbers: BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure
