How To Read A Cholesterol Level Chart

Cholesterol is one of the many screenings that doctors do today to assess a patient's health risk. High cholesterol can be an indication that a patient may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease or have a heart attack later in life. Cholesterol screenings provide a wealth of information to doctors regarding the condition of the heart and cardiovascular system. However, patients who have this screening done may be confused by the rather complex results they receive. This article will shed some light on a cholesterol level chart so patients have a better idea of what the results mean to their health.

Ranges
The first thing to understand when reading a cholesterol level chart is that the norm for cholesterol numbers is offered in ranges. There is no precise cholesterol number that is ideal. Instead, patients are advised to maintain a cholesterol reading that will falls within the normal range. There is one range for normal, near optimal, borderline high and one for high. This will indicate whether your cholesterol is nothing to worry about or whether you should begin to take steps to bring your numbers down. If your cholesterol level chart says your cholesterol is in the high range, your doctor may also prescribe medication to help you bring your levels down more quickly to avoid the health risks.

Types of Cholesterol
A cholesterol level chart will also include readings for different types of cholesterol. High density lipoproteins, or HDL, are considered the "good" cholesterol that can be eliminated effectively from the body. These numbers should be higher rather than lower. Low density lipoproteins, or LDL, are the "bad" cholesterol that remains in the body, forming artery-clogging plaque. The LDL number should be as low as possible on a normal cholesterol level chart. Total cholesterol takes both of these numbers into consideration. The lower the total cholesterol on a cholesterol level chart, the better.

Numbers
Finally, you will see numbers on a cholesterol level chart that will indicate precisely where your cholesterol levels fall. The HDL reading should be 60 or more to be considered optimal. If your HDL is less than 40, doctors consider you at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. The LDL reading on the cholesterol level chart will ideally be at 100 or less. A number between 100 and 129 is considered near optimal and a number between 130 and 159 is borderline high. Anything over 160 is high and raises the risk factor for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

Total cholesterol numbers are also a significant piece of data on a cholesterol level chart. The ideal total cholesterol number is anything under 200. A number that falls between 200 and 239 is considered borderline high. A number over 240 is high, and considered a high risk factor. By understanding the numbers on a cholesterol level chart, you can take charge of your health and maintain a lower risk for a number of potentially serious conditions.