Freaky Numbers On Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol
levels are at
epidemic proportion in the United States. That is, if you believe the
numbers put out by the American Heart Association. More than 50% of
Americans, they report, need to take their body in for a cholesterol
tuneup. Of course, you can argue you are not the average American. But
because such a large percentage of our population are affected by this
problem, if left unchecked, could have serious financial, social and
health effects later. If you are directly affected, you can do
something about it if you take the time to understand what the ideal
levels are for cholesterol in the body.
Before
we get into
how you can measure your cholesterol levels, let us define two basic
terms. First. You have good cholesterol (HDL) which medical experts
believe are essential to good health. In contrast, bad cholesterol
(LDL) can buildup in the arteries causing clogging that can lead to
heart disease. However, both help to build cell walls that aid in the
flow of blood and other nutrients. Finally, cholesterol is just the
fatty substances found in these lipoproteins.
You can measure your own cholesterol levels in one of five ways, but
don't take any one measurement as an indication of your level. Of
course, your doctor will interpret these numbers for you, but you can
help your cause by having a general idea of what he is talking about.
The five measurements include Total, HDL, LDL, and Total/HDL and
LDL/HDL expressed as ratios. Finally, you will want to measure the
levels in milligrams per deciliter.
Another important factor in knowing your cholesterol levels is in the
categories the measurements fall in. For example, you can arrange your
results for each measurement in one of three categories: Desirable,
Borderline, and At Risk. You can interpret their meaning literally.
Here's how some of your numbers will look.
| Categories |
Measurement |
| Total
Desirable |
less
than 200 mg./DL |
| Total
Borderline |
200
to 240 mg. |
| Total
At Risk |
greater
than 240 mg. |
| HDL
Desirable |
greater
than 45 mg./DL |
| HDL
Borderline |
35
to 45 mg. |
| HDL
At Risk |
less
than 35 mg. |
| LDL
Desirable |
less
than 130 mg./DL |
| LDL
Borderline |
130
to 160 mg. |
| LDL
At Risk |
greater
than 160 mg. |
| Total/HDL
Desirable |
4.5 |
| Total/HDL
Borderline |
4.5
to 5.5 |
| Total/HDL
At Risk |
greater
than 5.5 |
| LDL/HDL
Desirable |
less
than 3.0 |
| LDL/HDL
Borderline |
3.0
to 5.0 |
| LDL/HDL
At Risk |
greater
than 5.0 |
I hope you are still with me. Don't let the numbers intimidate you,
once you know the cholesterol levels measurements, just look
at
the category listed to the left of the measurements.
Knowing how to read your cholesterol levels is a useful skill, but you
should take it one step further. Consider playing with the numbers to
see if you how you can reduce your risk of clogged arteries and heart
disease. For example, dropping 10 milligrams per deciliter in your
overall cholesterol, would reduce your risk of heart disease
about 40 percent. Indeed, you will want to see these results from your
efforts.
Don't worry about the numbers or the categories, just strive for normal
cholesterol levels.
|
Main Menu
Home
Contact
Us
About Us
Lower Cholesterol Resources
Lower
Cholesterol Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Choosing
a Low Cholesterol Diet
High
Cholesterol Can Lead to Heart Disease
Freaky
Numbers On Cholesterol Levels
What's
the Big Deal About HDL Cholesterol?
Eating
Red Yeast Rice Is Good For Your Cholesterol
|
