How to Understand Cholesterol Tests
A total cholesterol test measures several different elements in the blood that are considered cholesterol. Depending on whether you're measuring good cholesterol components or bad ones, a high number can be a positive or a negative. Understanding what your cholesterol test results mean can help you improve your overall health and reduce your risk for heart disease.
Instructions
Look at your total cholesterol number. This number adds up all the different types of cholesterol in your blood. If the number is lower than 200 mg/dL, your total blood cholesterol level is considered healthy. If your total cholesterol number is higher than 240 mg/dL, your blood cholesterol level is high. Total cholesterol levels between 200 mg/dL and 240 mg/dL are considered borderline high.
Check your LDL number. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, often is called bad cholesterol because of its tendency to build up in blood vessels, causing blockages and thickening. If you have a family or personal history of heart disease or other risk factors that put you at increased risk for heart disease, you want an LDL number of 70 mg/dL or lower. For people who aren't at increased risk for heart disease, 129 mg/dL or lower is considered healthy. If your LDL climbs above 130 mg/dL, it's considered borderline high. If your LDL is higher than 160 mg/dL, it is high; if your LDL is higher than 190 mg/dL, your levels are considered dangerously high.
Look for the HDL number. This tells you how much HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is in your blood. HDL helps clear cholesterol from your blood vessels by collecting it and transporting it out of the body, so a high HDL number is a good thing, even if it increases your total blood cholesterol. Ideally, your HDL number should be higher than 50 mg/dL; higher than 60 mg/dL is considered optimal. HDL levels below 50 mg/dL for women and below 40 mg/dL for men are considered poor.
Find your triglyceride number. Triglycerides are a particular kind of blood fat that the body makes when it's getting more calories than it's using. If your triglyceride number is higher than 150 mg/dL, you may be at increased risk for serious health conditions, including obesity and diabetes.
Talk to your doctor about your results. Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, can improve problematic cholesterol numbers. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a medication to help lower your cholesterol.