How to Calculate HDL

High-density lipoproteins, also referred to as HDLs or "good" cholesterol, are known to protect and uphold cardiovascular health. Inversely, low-density lipoproteins, known as LDLs or "bad" cholesterol, contribute to the increase risk of heart disease. Laboratories conduct health tests that use your blood work to test HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. The combination of these two types of cholesterol are known as the total cholesterol level, measured in milligrams per deciliter.

Instructions

• 1

  Schedule an appointment with your health care professional to receive an cholesterol level test. Ask your doctor or nurse how long you will have to fast before your blood exam.

• 2

  Perform your cholesterol test and obtain a laboratory result from your health care professional. Cholesterol tests are conducted with a small blood sample and will be sent to the laboratory for processing. The results may take a couple of days and will be given to the physician or doctor that administered the test.

  You can also purchase a home testing kit to calculate your HDL cholesterol. Use the lancet device in your kit to puncture your finger to obtain a blood droplet. Allow the blood to drop on the designated reader hole on the device, which will then calculate your HDL and LDL levels.

• 3

  Assess your HDL levels. Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and are broken down into optimal, average and low HDL levels. For men, 60 mg/dL or higher HDL levels are optimal, 40 to 60 mg/DL is average and 40 mg/dL or less is low. For women, 60 mg/dL or higher HDL levels are optimal, 50 to 60 mg/dL is average and 50 mg/dL or less is considered low.