How to Read the Cholesterol Chart

Reading your cholesterol chart may seem like reading another language. Knowing what your numbers mean will help translate the terminology to words that actually relate to your knowledge about health. Learning the differences between your triglycerides, HDL and LDL, and the numbers that are associated with them will better help you understand what is happening within your own body.

Instructions

• 1

  Find your HDL number. This is your high density lipoprotein number and is your "good" cholesterol. You want your HDL number to fall at 40 mg/dL (milligram per deciliter) or above. High HDL is associated with a low risk for cardiovascular disease.

• 2

  Find your LDL cholesterol number. This is considered your "bad" cholesterol (low density lipoproteins). This number is best kept at 100 mg/dL or less.

• 3

  Find your triglyceride number. This indicates the amount of fat circulating in your blood. You typically want to keep this number fairly low. This number should be lower than 150 mg/dL to be considered normal. Having high triglycerides and low LDL can still put you at a high risk for heart disease. This is especially true if your HDL is lower than recommended.

• 4

  Add your HDL and your LDL numbers together. This is your total cholesterol number, which helps determine your heart disease risk.

• 5

  Divide your total cholesterol number by your HDL levels (total cholesterol/HDL). This number should be less than 4.5 to indicate a decreased risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

• 6

  Speak to your doctor about your cholesterol levels and the effects of having cholesterol levels that are too low or too high.