How to Understand Cholesterol Tests

A total cholesterol test measures several different elements in the blood that are considered cholesterol. Depending on whether you're measuring good cholesterol components or bad ones, a high number can be a positive or a negative. Understanding what your cholesterol test results mean can help you improve your overall health and reduce your risk for heart disease.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at your total cholesterol number. This number adds up all the different types of cholesterol in your blood. If the number is lower than 200 mg/dL, your total blood cholesterol level is considered healthy. If your total cholesterol number is higher than 240 mg/dL, your blood cholesterol level is high. Total cholesterol levels between 200 mg/dL and 240 mg/dL are considered borderline high.

• 2

  Check your LDL number. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, often is called bad cholesterol because of its tendency to build up in blood vessels, causing blockages and thickening. If you have a family or personal history of heart disease or other risk factors that put you at increased risk for heart disease, you want an LDL number of 70 mg/dL or lower. For people who aren't at increased risk for heart disease, 129 mg/dL or lower is considered healthy. If your LDL climbs above 130 mg/dL, it's considered borderline high. If your LDL is higher than 160 mg/dL, it is high; if your LDL is higher than 190 mg/dL, your levels are considered dangerously high.

• 3

  Look for the HDL number. This tells you how much HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is in your blood. HDL helps clear cholesterol from your blood vessels by collecting it and transporting it out of the body, so a high HDL number is a good thing, even if it increases your total blood cholesterol. Ideally, your HDL number should be higher than 50 mg/dL; higher than 60 mg/dL is considered optimal. HDL levels below 50 mg/dL for women and below 40 mg/dL for men are considered poor.

• 4

  Find your triglyceride number. Triglycerides are a particular kind of blood fat that the body makes when it's getting more calories than it's using. If your triglyceride number is higher than 150 mg/dL, you may be at increased risk for serious health conditions, including obesity and diabetes.

• 5

  Talk to your doctor about your results. Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, can improve problematic cholesterol numbers. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a medication to help lower your cholesterol.