Interpreting your cholesterol readingsThe cholesterol readings from your blood test usually contain information about total cholesterol, good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. The following cholesterol charts are adapted from The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, which are endorsed by the American Heart Association. These guidelines are for the general population only. People who have a higher risk for heart disease have stricter guidelines. Total cholesterol This cholesterol reading is a measure of LDL (bad) cholesterol + HDL (good cholesterol) + other blood fats. There is a definite link between elevated total cholesterol levels and heart disease. Check your results against this table.
LDL cholesterol LDL stands for low density lipoprotein, and is known as the bad cholesterol, as it carries cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. Our bodies do actually require LDL to provide cholesterol to all of our cells. The problem is, if there is too much LDL cholesterol, it will be 'dumped' onto the artery walls, restricting blood flow and contributing to atherosclerosis. This type of cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. Check if you are at a higher risk of heart disease, because if you are then your optimal LDL levels will be different from the ones listed below. Click here for more detailed information on LDL cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol HDL stands for high density lipoprotein, also known as good cholesterol. Why? because it helps remove or "mop up" bad cholesterol from the blood, and transports it back to the liver. HDL cholesterol helps protect you against heart disease, and for this reason it is the only cholesterol reading that people try to increase.
Triglycerides Triglycerides are a type of fat. Most fat in the body and food is present in the form of triglycerides. The presence of high triglycerides is also known as hypertriglyceridemia, and is an independent risk factor for heart disease.
Click here to learn about a diet to lower triglycerides. A final word Looking at LDL or HDL cholesterol levels on their own isn't terribly  informative. The balance of good and bad cholesterol is of great importance in considering your risk of heart disease.I like to think of bad cholesterol as "mess makers", and good cholesterol as "cleaners" - with their mops! The higher the HDL (cleaners) and the lower the LDL (mess makers), the "tidier" the blood vessels, and the lower the risk of heart disease. Conversely, if LDL levels are high and HDL levels are low, you have more mess-makers playing havoc with your arteries, and not enough cleaners to tidy the mess, which means a higher risk of heart disease. Learn more about cholesterol ratios here. Return to top Return from cholesterol readings to Home Page
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