Introduction
According to the American Heart Association, when looking at your total blood cholesterol levels, you want to aim for reading of 200 mg/dL or less. Anything over 200 mg/dL puts you in a borderline risk category, and anything over 239 mg/dL is considered a high-risk level. Having a high total blood cholesterol level puts you at risk for developing certain dangerous diseases, especially heart disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average American has a blood cholesterol level of 203 mg/dL. An estimated 17 percent of the total population of the United States has a high risk blood cholesterol level of over 240 mg/dL.
Cholesterol Types
There are three factors that a medical professional will look at when calculating your cholesterol: HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. High-density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol) are considered "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol transports cholesterol from the bloodstream and to the liver, where it can be eliminated from the body. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol) are considered the "bad" cholesterol. This type of cholesterol is responsible for keeping cholesterol in the blood, and it can leave traces of cholesterol called plaque on the walls of the blood vessels. This plaque can cause arterial blocks, leading to serious heart and blood vessel problems. Triglycerides are a form of fat that often contribute to a higher level of LDL cholesterol. When triglyceride levels are high (over 150 mg/dL), high LDL cholesterol levels usually are also present.
Test
To test cholesterol levels, your medical health professional will use as blood test called a lipid panel, otherwise known as a lipid profile. The lipid panel is usually performed as a fasting test, meaning that no food or beverages (outside of water) can be consumed nine to 12 hours before the test. During the test a blood sample will be taken from the arm and sent to a lab. At the lab the medical technologist will separate each lipid in the blood sample and calculate how many milligrams (mg) of lipid is present per deciliter (dL) of blood.
Results
Results from your lipid panel will show four main numbers. First the test will list out the separate numbers for each lipid tested, including HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The fourth number listed is your total cholesterol level. Your total cholesterol level is calculated by taking your triglyceride level and dividing by five. That number is then added to your HDL and LDL cholesterol numbers to get a final total cholesterol level.
According to the American Heart Association, when looking at your total blood cholesterol levels, you want to aim for reading of 200 mg/dL or less. Anything over 200 mg/dL puts you in a borderline risk category, and anything over 239 mg/dL is considered a high-risk level. Having a high total blood cholesterol level puts you at risk for developing certain dangerous diseases, especially heart disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average American has a blood cholesterol level of 203 mg/dL. An estimated 17 percent of the total population of the United States has a high risk blood cholesterol level of over 240 mg/dL.
Cholesterol Types
There are three factors that a medical professional will look at when calculating your cholesterol: HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. High-density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol) are considered "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol transports cholesterol from the bloodstream and to the liver, where it can be eliminated from the body. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol) are considered the "bad" cholesterol. This type of cholesterol is responsible for keeping cholesterol in the blood, and it can leave traces of cholesterol called plaque on the walls of the blood vessels. This plaque can cause arterial blocks, leading to serious heart and blood vessel problems. Triglycerides are a form of fat that often contribute to a higher level of LDL cholesterol. When triglyceride levels are high (over 150 mg/dL), high LDL cholesterol levels usually are also present.
Test
To test cholesterol levels, your medical health professional will use as blood test called a lipid panel, otherwise known as a lipid profile. The lipid panel is usually performed as a fasting test, meaning that no food or beverages (outside of water) can be consumed nine to 12 hours before the test. During the test a blood sample will be taken from the arm and sent to a lab. At the lab the medical technologist will separate each lipid in the blood sample and calculate how many milligrams (mg) of lipid is present per deciliter (dL) of blood.
Results
Results from your lipid panel will show four main numbers. First the test will list out the separate numbers for each lipid tested, including HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The fourth number listed is your total cholesterol level. Your total cholesterol level is calculated by taking your triglyceride level and dividing by five. That number is then added to your HDL and LDL cholesterol numbers to get a final total cholesterol level.
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