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Interpreting Cholesterol Screening Results

So you had your screening. What the hell do all those numbers mean anyway?

Total Cholesterol

This tells you how much total cholesterol is in your bloodstream. Until recently, this was considered a good indicator of your heart attack risk. A total cholesterol level of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood was considered good. But according to the Framingham Heart Study, 35% of participants who had a cardiac event such as bypass surgery, heart attack, or a balloon angioplasty, had total cholesterol levels of less than 200 mg/dL. So while total cholesterol is important, other factors have to be considered as well.

Desirable level: < 200

Triglycerides

Research indicates high blood levels of triglycerides (over 150 mg/dL) are a risk for heart disease, even when HDL levels are good. High triglyceride levels increased the risk of heart disease by 14% in men and 37% in women. Also, a high triglyceride level is an important component in the metabolic syndrome, a known risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. The metabolic syndrome is found in over 30% of Americans.

Desirable level: < 150

High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)

HDL is considered the good cholesterol because it carries blood fats away from the arteries and to the liver for processing. Higher HDL levels are considered protective against heart attack; lower levels are associated with a higher risk.

Desirable level: > 40

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

LDL is considered the bad cholesterol, the slow-building culprit that binds with other substances to form thick, hard deposits called plaque. Plaque can clog arteries and block blood flow, causing heart attacks and stroke. A blood level exceeding 130 mg/dL is considered high. Lowering LDL cholesetrol is considered one of the main things to do to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.

Desirable level: <100 (the lower the better)

Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)

Like LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol is considered a type of “bad” cholesterol because elevated levels are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. There is no easy, direct way to measure VLDL so VLDL is usually estimated as a percentage of the triglyceride value. A normal VLDL cholesterol level is between 5 and 40 milligrams per deciliter.

Desirable: < 40

Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Your ratio is your total cholesterol divided by your HDL – the lower the number the better.

Desirable: Male < 4.9, Female < 4.4

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