Cholesterol Levels, Triglycerides, and Other Important Health Ratios

Going to the doctor's office can be a stupidly confusing experience. I can't even tell you how many times I've gone in for an exam and the doctor would start throwing around words like triglycerides, blood pressure, or HDL/LDL cholesterol, and then tag on some magical ratio or number as a measurement...come on, is that number really supposed to mean anything to the average person?? He'd say something like "your LDL-to-HDL ratio is 95/60 mg/dl and your triglycerides are 145 mg/dl, you're perfectly healthy." Great...I'm glad the doctor says that I'm healthy, but I'd love to know what those numbers rmean and HOW good they really are. Here's your guide to the numbers/ratios doctors use to determine how healthy a person is, what these numbers measure, and what numbers to shoot for.

Cholesterol - When cholesterol levels are too high the excess begins to stick to arterial walls, which increases the risk of coronary heart disease. There are two types, HDL/"good" cholesterol, and LDL/"bad" cholesterol. LDL builds up on arterial walls and causes plaque to accumulate, HDL helps clean arterial walls of that plaque.

• Total Cholesterol:
• Good - < 200 mg/dl (mg per deciliter of blood)
• Elevated - 200-239 mg/dl
• High - >= 240 mg/dl
• LDL Cholesterol:
• Good - < 100 mg/dl
• Pretty good - 100-129 mg/dl
• Elevated - 130-159 mg/dl
• High - 160-189 mg/dl
• Very High 0 >= 190 mg/dl
• HDL Cholesterol:
• Low - < 40 mg/dl
• High - >= 60 mg/dl

Triglycerides - Triglycerides are excess fat circulating through the blood stream. High levels are a primary cause of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

• Good - < 150 mg/dl
• Elevated - 150-199 mg/dl
• High - 200-499 mg/dl
• Very High - > 500 mg/dl

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - CRP is produced by the body in response to inflammation/infection, a main cause of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). The CRP tests for inflammation of the blood vessels and is used to assess the risk of CHD.

• Low Risk of CHD - < 1.0 mg/dl
• Moderate CHD Risk - 1.0-3.0 mg/dl
• High CHD Risk - > 3.0 mg/dl

Body Pressure - The pressure on arterial walls as the heart pumps blood. Systolic refers to the maximum blood pressure or the pressure when the heart is beating, diastolic refers to the minimum pressure or the pressure when the heart is at rest. High blood pressure/Hypertension is a major risk factor for CHD, stroke, and heart attack. Blood pressure readings are measured by a sphygmomanometer (the squeezy cuff thing), and are given as systolic/diastolic (e.g. 120/80).

• Good - < 120 mm HG/ < 80 mm HG
• Pre-Hypertension - 120-139/80-89
• Stage 1 Hypertension - 140-159/90-99
• Stage 2 Hypertension - >= 160/>= 100

Fasting Blood Glucose - Measures the amount of sugar in the blood as a test for diabetes.

• Good - < 100 mg/dl
• Pre-Diabetes - 100-125 mg/dl
• Diabetes - >= 126 mg/dl