Measuring your cholesterol is usually part of a standard health care screening, and understanding those results will help you make diet and lifestyle adjustments, if necessary. Here, the staff at Emerald City Medical Arts in Seattle, WA, explains how to interpret your cholesterol numbers.

What Is Cholesterol? 

All cells in the body contain cholesterol, which is an oily substance that does not mix with blood. Rather, it is transported through the body by lipoproteins, soluble proteins that combine with and transport fat or other lipids in the blood plasma. It’s essential for creating hormones, digesting food, and allowing the body to create vitamin D. When your doctor screens your cholesterol levels, they will take measurements of your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride levels.

LDL

LDL is the “bad” cholesterol. It can build up over time on the walls of the arteries and increase your risk for heart disease. It’s found in full-fat dairy products, red meat, hydrogenated oils, and some baked goods. 

These are the basic guidelines for understanding your LDL numbers: 

• Less than 100: optimal
• 100–129: near optimal
• 130–159: borderline high
• 160–189: high
• 190 or above: very high

If you already have heart disease, your goal should be to have an LDL level of 70 or less. For high-risk individuals, or people with a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or other risk factors, the goal is less than 100.

HDL

Also called "good" cholesterol, HDL takes LDL out of the blood and prevents it from building up in blood vessels. High-density lipoprotein can be positively impacted by weight loss, regular exercise, and ingesting foods such as olive oil, coconut oil, fatty fish like salmon, and purple produce like cabbage, eggplant, or blueberries. 

• Low HDL is less than 40 and is considered a risk.
• Good HDL numbers are above 60.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the main form of fat in the body. They are the result of digesting or breaking down fats and are found in plasma. They come from the same types of foods that create LDL cholesterol and can be lowered by exercise and diet. An excess has been linked to heart disease. 

A general guide for triglyceride numbers is:

• Less than 150: normal
• 150–199: borderline high
• 200–499: high
• 500 or higher: very high

Who Is a Candidate for a Cholesterol Health Care Screening?

From age 20 onward, you should have your cholesterol tested every five years or so. If you have a history of high cholesterol or are high risk—diabetic, overweight, or sedentary—consider having your levels tested annually or as your doctor directs. Cholesterol levels can increase with age; postmenopausal women, for example, often have a rise in LDL and a drop in HDL and might want to consider more frequent health care screenings.

Healthy cholesterol levels are an overall part of wellness and can be impacted by diet, weight, exercise, and age. Emerald City Medical Arts, serving the Greater Seattle area, is a family medical clinic that offers health care screenings, addiction treatment, and CPR training. Call (206) 281-1616 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website to learn more about their services.