Interpreting Cholesterol Results
Discussion
Due to my GP being a bit useless (I probably ought to find a new one) I had to go up and ask what my recent cholesterol results were.(Id only been told it was 5.2)
The receptionist gave me a print out and with the help of heartuk.org.uk I think Ive worked out the following:
Overall = 5.2
LDL = 3.8
HDL = 1.39 (Male: above 1 is good)
TC:HDL ratio = 3.74.
heartuk site says the TC:HDL ratio should be less than 6. So it seems to me Im well below. So why has the doc told me in an email that 5.2 is a bit high and I ought to look into cholesterol lowering diets?
Cheers all.
The receptionist gave me a print out and with the help of heartuk.org.uk I think Ive worked out the following:
Overall = 5.2
LDL = 3.8
HDL = 1.39 (Male: above 1 is good)
TC:HDL ratio = 3.74.
heartuk site says the TC:HDL ratio should be less than 6. So it seems to me Im well below. So why has the doc told me in an email that 5.2 is a bit high and I ought to look into cholesterol lowering diets?
Cheers all.
Hi,
I'm not a doctor either but I am a nutritionist and am aware of what cholesterol is and what it means etc.
The NICE and NHLBI guidelines are;
Optimal total cholesterol is below 5, borderline is 5-6 and above 6 is high - probably what your gp has read.
Optimal LDL is below 3, borderline is 3-4 and above 4 is high
As you say, a HDL above 1 is good.
Cholesterol isn't a good marker of overall health and if I was you, i wouldn't go making loads of changes to your diet.
The things you can do to reduce your total cholesterol levels are the normal things to improve health - increase exercise, more veg/fruit, better diet, lose some weight, less drinking, quit smoking etc.
I'm not a doctor either but I am a nutritionist and am aware of what cholesterol is and what it means etc.
The NICE and NHLBI guidelines are;
Optimal total cholesterol is below 5, borderline is 5-6 and above 6 is high - probably what your gp has read.
Optimal LDL is below 3, borderline is 3-4 and above 4 is high
As you say, a HDL above 1 is good.
Cholesterol isn't a good marker of overall health and if I was you, i wouldn't go making loads of changes to your diet.
The things you can do to reduce your total cholesterol levels are the normal things to improve health - increase exercise, more veg/fruit, better diet, lose some weight, less drinking, quit smoking etc.
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