How to Add Cholesterol Totals

Your doctor may ask you to get a complete cholesterol test. It is also called a lipid panel or lipid profile. The test is a group of blood tests that are used to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. The cholesterol test is important to determine your risk of atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, since there are no symptoms for high cholesterol. It is very easy to read your test results and calculate the total cholesterol.
　

Things You'll Need

• Cholesterol test report

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Instructions

• 1

  Get the HDL number from the cholesterol test report. HDL is high-density lipoprotein. It is known as the "good" cholesterol as it carries the cholesterol back to the liver away from the heart. The test report will show the HDL number in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).

• 2

  Get the LDL number from the cholesterol test report. LDL is low-density lipoprotein. It is known as the "bad" cholesterol as it damages the inner walls of the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis. The LDL number is also in mg/dL.

• 3

  Add the HDL and the LDL numbers.

• 4

  Get the triglycerides number from your test report. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in the body and in the blood. It is represented in mg/dL. Divide the triglycerides number by 5.

• 5

  Use the formula (LDL + HDL) + (Triglycerides/5) to get the total cholesterol.