CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance in your blood and also in your body’s cells. It is a vital substance for the body –helping to build cells, produce hormones, and insulate nerves. The body gets cholesterol from the food you eat, but also produces it in the liver. Cholesterol is measured by a simple blood test.

What’s a Normal Cholesterol Level?

When a sample of your blood is analyzed, the results are usually reported as the Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein  (LDL) Cholesterol, and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol.  Usually another measure of blood fats called Triglycerides is measured as well.

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR TOTAL CHOLESTEROL

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR LDL CHOLESTEROL

LDL has been called the “bad” cholesterol because it higher levels have been strongly linked to the build up of cholesterol in the arteries. This leads to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR HDL CHOLESTEROL

HDL cholesterol has been called the “good cholesterol. It carries the cholesterol away from the blood stream and into the liver where the unwanted cholesterol is broken down.

In women the recommendations are for an HDL above 50 mg/dL.

HERE ARE THE TRIGLYCERIDE NUMBERS

Triglycerides get into the blood from foods, especially fatty foods, or made by the body from other energy sources such as carbohydrates. High triglycerides have been linked to cardiovascular disease as well.

This information should give you a better understanding of what your health care provider is looking for when your blood is tested for cholesterol and triglycerides.