How to read your lipid profile report ?

In you lipid profile report what is the HDL and LDL cholesterol ?

Along with smoking and high blood pressure, raised blood cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for heart disease.

The two main types of cholesterol in your lipid profile are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol. Some cholesterol is needed in the body, but high levels can be dangerous.

In this update, we look at HDL and LDL in detail, including what makes one good and the other bad, as well as what a person can do to keep levels as recommended.

LDL cholesterol is often called bad cholesterol. If there is too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it builds up in the walls of the blood vessels, causing them to narrow and stiffen & ncrease the risk of heart attack or stroke.

HDL or good cholesterol can move LDL cholesterol from the blood to the liver to be broken down and disposed of as waste. HDL cholesterol is referred to as good cholesterol because it reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Higher HDL levels are linked to a reduced risk of heart attack and heart disease and brain strokes

What are the ideal ranges?

Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL

LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL

HDL cholesterol above 40 mg/dL

Different regions and countries may have varying guidelines, so it is wise to speak to a doctor about the most accurate and up-to-date ranges.

Total cholesterol to HDL ratios

The total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio can help a person know if they are consuming enough good cholesterol and to limit sources of bad cholesterol. It can be measured by dividing the total cholesterol by the HDL level.

Ideally, the ratio should be below 4. The lower this number is, the healthier a person's cholesterol levels are.

Total cholesterol does fluctuate, so more than one blood test might be required for an accurate assessment.

Some studies suggest that the total cholesterol to HDL ratio is a better marker of the risk of heart disease than LDL cholesterol levels alone.

Non-HDL cholesterol

Another method of assessing cholesterol levels is calculating a non-HDL cholesterol level. This is measured by subtracting HDL cholesterol from the total cholesterol.

This method is considered to be more accurate by some doctors because it includes very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels in the calculation.

Similarly to LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol can also build up inside the walls of blood vessels, which is undesirable

Ideally, a non-HDL cholesterol level should be less than 130 mg/dL. A higher value than that increases the risk for heart disease.

{Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.}