What do the results of the cholesterol test mean? How do patients interpret each value?
From a cholesterol test, you receive measures of the total blood cholesterol level, the LDL cholesterol level, the HDL cholesterol level, and the triglyceride level. The cholesterol level test can inform the patient on their risks of heart disease. Each category needs to be interpreted as its own number, they are all determined using different methods. (Maddox, 2012).Cholesterol
The higher a patient's total blood cholesterol level is, the greater risk they have for heart disease, and possibly strokes. When at a high risk (240 mg/dL and above), the patient has more than twice the risk for coronary heart disease than a patient with a desirable measure of total blood cholesterol level (American Heart Association, 2012). The reason for this is that Cholesterol in high amounts can block your arteries, therefore making your heart work harder to push blood through more narrow vessels. Lack of blood flow is what essentially causes strokes.
Total Blood Cholesterol Level
- High risk: 240 mg/dL and above
- Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
- Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
(Maddox, 2012)
LDL
The lower a patient's LDL cholesterol level is, the lower risk they have of heart attack and stroke (American Heart Association, 2012). LDL is what creates the clots in your arteries- when in right amounts, it's not so "bad" afterall.
LDL Cholesterol Level
- Very high risk: 190 mg/dL and above
- High risk: 160-189 mg/dL
- Borderline high risk: 130-159 mg/dL
- Near optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
- Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL
(Maddox, 2012)
HDL
When looking at HDL cholesterol level, higher levels are better. A
low HDL level means that the person is at a higher risk for heart disease, while a high HDL level means that is at a lower risk for heart disease and is "considered protective against heart disease" (American Heart Association, 2012). HDL basically scrubs clean the walls of the arteries. This is a reason why people call it "good". Again, in proper amounts both LDL and HDL are "good"
HDL Cholesterol Level
- High risk: Less than 40 mg/dL (for men)
- High risk: Less than 50 mg/dL (for women)
- Desirable: 60 mg/dL and above
(American Heart Association, 2012)
For a patient's triglyceride level, these are the possible results and their meaning. When looking at triglyceride level, lower levels are better as high triglyceride levels suggest lifestyle-related risk factor, such as physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, and a diet very high in carbohydrates. However, high triglyceride levels may also be caused by diseases and genetic disorders (American Heart Association, 2012).
Triglyceride
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your body that is used for energy. You need them for good health, but having them in too high amounts increases risks for heart disease. When a patient does a test for their cholesterol levels, they also receive their triglyceride levels. It's important to not ignore them.
Triglyceride Level
- Very high risk: 500 mg/dL and above
- High risk: 200-499 mg/dL
- Borderline high risk: 150-199 mg/dL
- Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
(Maddox, 2012)
Keep Reading -> How to change LDL and HDL