How to Calculate HDL & LDL Cholesterol

Cholesterol is essential for the normal function of the human body, but high levels are a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. In the blood, cholesterol is transported by low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or "bad", cholesterol), high-density lipoproteins (HDL, or "good", cholesterol) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). The "bad" cholesterol is associated with fatty deposits inside blood vessels that cause the above health risks. The cholesterol level is determined using a blood test and data are given in milligrams per 100 ml (1 deciliter) of blood, denoted as "mg/dL".

Instructions

• 1

  Obtain results of your blood work from your primary care physician.

• 2

  Find total cholesterol level in the result report. For this example, we will use a total cholesterol of 215 mg/dL.

• 3

  Find the HDL ("good") cholesterol value from your blood test. For this example, the HDL is 55 mg/dL.

• 4

  Divide the triglyceride value (abbreviated as "Trig") from the report by 5 to obtain the very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) level. For instance, if the triglyceride value is 250 mg/dL, then VLDL is 50 mg/dL.

• 5

  Subtract VLDL and HDL values from the total cholesterol to calculate the LDL ("bad") cholesterol. In our example, LDL cholesterol is 110 mg/dL.

• 6

  Navigate to the "Cholesterol Level" web page and assign your risk factors for heart diseases and stroke according to your cholesterol numbers. For instance, the LDL cholesterol level of 110 mg/dL is nearly optimal and does not pose a significant risk.