As soon as you pass the age of 20 years, doctors will suggest you celebrate by checking cholesterol levels in the blood. Next, you should undergo the same examination at least once every five years. One of the readings that will be generated by this investigation is in the blood levels of total cholesterol (total cholesterol).
Here's how to understand the meaning of these figures (all figures refer to milligrams per deciliter of blood).
Here's how to understand the meaning of these figures (all figures refer to milligrams per deciliter of blood).
Less than 200-is the desired
200 to 239, need to be aware
240 and higher-hazardous
However, even if your total cholesterol number is still within safe limits, you still need to measure it on a regular basis, including HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the good kind.
Sometimes high levels of HDL cholesterol will help to neutralize the total number that have been "on the border" (although you may still be advisable to lower total cholesterol as low as possible).
If your HDL readings of less than 35, is considered to be categorized as "low," then you need to try to raise it again. (The best option for you in this case is exercising to lose weight, quit smoking and cut down the sugar you eat.)
And what about cholesterol LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is kind of bad? If other tests reveal that you are in danger, your doctor should use the data from your cholesterol test to calculate LDL levels as well. This figure should be below 130.
Finally, to help interpret the meaning of all these numbers, your doctor may say your cholesterol ratio, the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL numbers. If this ratio is 35: 1 or lower, meaning you just fine.