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Upper & Lower Limits for Cholesterol
Testing your cholesterol and understanding the results is an important part of personal health maintenance, says Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of "You: The Owner's Manual." Each of the three types of cholesterol have their own scale for determining how healthy your blood cholesterol levels are 12.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Cholesterol Testing
Your cholesterol test begins with a blood draw 2. According to information at MayoClinic.com, you should fast for approximately eight hours prior to your blood draw. Eating in the hours before your cholesterol test can artificially raise or lower cholesterol levels as you digest the food 2. Your blood samples then go to a lab for analysis. In most cases, you'll receive your results within a few days to a week.
LDL Cholesterol
How to Calculate Non-HDL Cholesterol
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LDL cholesterol, or low-density lipoproteins, are bad cholesterol 2. Though necessary for carrying materials to your body cells, these bodies tend to clump up in your bloodstream. According to Oz, this restricts or even blocks blood flow, and can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. The American Heart Association reports the maximum healthy level of LDL cholesterol is 129 mg of LDL per deciliter of blood 23. The AHA recommends lower levels for optimum health, especially for those already at risk for heart disease.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol, or high-density lipoproteins, are the good cholesterol 2. They clean the bloodstream, promoting heart health. American Heart Association and guidelines recommend 60 mg of HDL per deciliter as the minimum healthy level 3.
Triglycerides
Can Sardines Raise Cholesterol?
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Not themselves a health problem, triglycerides are formed in response to unhealthy habits. Physical inactivity, smoking, excess alcohol and a diet too rich in sugars and carbohydrates are examples of behaviors that can raise your triglyceride count to unhealthy levels. The American Heart Association recommends 150 mg per deciliter as the maximum healthy triglyceride level 3.
Total Blood Cholesterol
Total blood cholesterol calculates your overall cholesterol held by taking into account the relationship between LDL, HDL and triglycerides 2. To calculate total blood cholesterol, subtract your HDL count from your LDL count, then add one fifth of your triglyceride count 2. According to the American Heart Association, your maximum healthy total blood cholesterol level is 200 mg per deciliter 23.
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References
- "You: The Owner's Manual;" Rozien & Oz; 2006
- Mayo Clinic: Cholesterol
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol Levels
- American Heart Association. What is cholesterol?
- Cleveland Clinic. Cholesterol: What you need to know about high blood cholesterol. May 1, 2019.
- National Center for Health Statistics. Total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults: United States, 2015–2016. October 2017.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cholesterol.
- Barter PJ. The causes and consequences of low levels of high density lipoproteins in patients with diabetes. Diabetes Metab J. 2011;35(2):101-106. doi:10.4093/dmj.2011.35.2.101
- American Heart Association. How to get your cholesterol tested.
- Keene D, Price C, Shun-shin MJ, Francis DP. Effect on cardiovascular risk of high density lipoprotein targeted drug treatments niacin, fibrates, and CETP inhibitors: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials including 117,411 patients. BMJ. 2014;349:g4379. doi:10.1136/bmj.g4379
- Tall HR, Rader DJ. Trials and tribulations of CETP inhibitors. Circulation Research. Oct. 10, 2017.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Cholesterol: Medicines to help you.
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Jake Wayne has written professionally for more than 12 years, including assignments in business writing, national magazines and book-length projects. He has a psychology degree from the University of Oregon and black belts in three martial arts.