Total Cholesterol

Total cholesterol is a combined measurement of the different types of cholesterol in your blood. Doctors use these measurements to judge your risk for a number of health threats, especially heart disease, stroke, and other circulatory threats.

The types of fat included in total cholesterol readings include the following.  

Low density lipoproteins. This is commonly abbreviated to ldl and is sometimes called "bad cholesterol." Low density lipoproteins tend to stick to artery walls and form a substance called plaque. As plaque accumulates, it makes the blood vessels more narrow. This causes the heart to work harder to push blood and life-sustaining oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body. Also see high blood pressure or hypertension.

Some doctors have nicknamed LDL "low down and lousy" because of the damage it can cause to your health. 

High density lipoproteins. This is also known as HDL or "good cholesterol." This type of cholesterol helps keep your artery walls clean because it attaches to LDL and flushes it out of your system. Doctors look closely at the ratio of LDL to HDL in assessing your risk of heart attack or stroke. The lower the ratio, the lower the risk of heart problems.

Total cholesterol is measured as part of a so-called "lipoprotein profile," which is a reading of HDL, LDL, triglycerides and other lipids (fats) in your blood. Triglycerides are fats we get from food. Calories that are not burned off by our bodies are converted into triglycerides and stored as fat. High triglycerides are also a threat to circulatory health.

What is a good total cholesterol measurement?

Your total cholesterol should be measured every five years starting at age 20. Men should be screened more often after age 35. Women should begin more frequent screenings after age 45. Women's cholesterol levels tend to remain low during their childbearing years because of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are produced by the ovaries before menopause. After menopause, a woman's cholesterol levels tend to rise.

Here's a breakdown of total cholesterol measurements. Your reading will be in the form of numbers usually represented by mg/dl or milligrams per deciliter.

• 200 or below - this is where you want to be.
• 200-239 - this is considered borderline high. Your doctor will probably recommend a low cholesterol diet and more exercise. He or she may also recommend cholesterol-lowering medications.
• 240 and above - this is considered high. Exercise and low cholesterol foods or cholesterol free foods become more important, and your doctor will also certainly prescribe cholesterol lowering medications.

Your doctor will also look at the numbers for some components of your lipid profile, including LDL, HDL and triglycerides.

For LDL cholesterol

• Less than 100 is the goal. This is considered optimal.
• 100 - 129 is considered good to excellent.
• 130 - 159 is rated as borderline high
• 160 - 189 is considered high
• 190 and above is considered very high

Anyone who already has heart or blood vessel disease should shoot for an LDL measurement around 70.

For HDL cholesterol

• 60 and above is considered optimal. Your risk of heart disease is low.
• Less than 40 in men and less than 50 in women is considered low. You are considered to be at risk for heart disease.

  
   

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