Ldl And Hdl - What Exactly Do These Results Really Mean On A Cholesterol Analysis

Ldl And Hdl - What Exactly Do These Results Really Mean On A Cholesterol Analysis

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It seems like everyone today is concerned about cholesterol. Whether it is the marketing of the food industry or because it is something we really need to be thinking about, cholesterol levels are now becoming more popular than blood pressure numbers. Now that everyone is considering their cholesterol levels it is essential to understand what those numbers mean.

When you get your cholesterol tested, which is often part of a standard blood test during a physical, the report you get back will often have three numbers. These numbers are for total cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). What do all of these numbers mean and which ones must you be concerned about? Of the two, LDL vs. HDL cholesterol, which is bad for you and which is good for you.

In the past, most people were just concerned about the total cholesterol number. If you asked an individual what their cholesterol was they would often just repeat the total number, leaving out the other numbers. Total cholesterol for a healthy adult should be 200mg/dL or lower. Nonetheless, in recent years it has become known that the total number is not always very crucial. It is the other two numbers that are significant.

LDL is considered the 'bad' cholesterol. Even though you do need some LDL, having too much is a bad thing that may result in a higher risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is actually needed for several functions of the body, including the building of hormones as well as for the structure of the brain, and it is the LDL molecules that delivers cholesterol around in the blood to wherever it is needed. Nevertheless, should you have too much LDL this can lead to a process that ends with plaque buildup in the walls of your arteries. This then causes a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

Ideally, LDL levels should be below 100mg/dL. Though, levels of 100-129mg/dL are merely fine. You do not want a level higher than 129mg/dL. If you do have high levels of LDL your physician will go over options on how to reduce LDL cholesterol in your blood.

However, HDL is considered the 'good' cholesterol. You actually want this number to be high. HDL additionally carries cholesterol, but it carries it out of the blood stream and into the liver, where it is needed to create bile. If you have more HDL this means that more cholesterol is taken out of your blood stream, lessening the chance for heart disease.

Your HDL level really should be 40mg/dL or higher. Any number higher than 60mg/dL is great.

The next time you see the report from your latest cholesterol test you must now recognize the different numbers. You can focus less on the total cholesterol number and more on what actually makes up that total number.

About the Author:
To learn more about how to reduce bad cholesterol, including more info about LDL vs. HDL cholesterol, read more content that Christine Crotts has prepared concerning this issue.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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