Cholesterol is a word we all talk about in relation to our health. Although we may not have an in depth knowledge on the subject, we do know that there is a component of Cholesterol referred as ‘bad’ Cholesterol (or LDL Cholesterol) which is the most important type to be concerned about. It is this ‘bad’ Cholesterol that needs to be regulated, in order to maintain good health.
Many of us fear this ‘bad’ Cholesterol and make it a point to visit our doctor for a check-up on a regular basis, especially to ensure our ‘Cholesterol levels’ are in check.
When you go in for a medical checkup, your blood is drawn for carrying out many tests, amongst which, Cholesterol screening is included. Your blood samples are sent to the lab and you receive your test results. Next, you visit your general physician and they interpret these results for you. If your Cholesterol levels are above the standard healthy level, your physician will show concern. If not, you will be diagnosed as ‘healthy’ (if other tests have no reason for concern).
But wouldn’t it be good to know some facts yourself, about what your levels mean and how far you should be concerned or not? So let’s try to understand what your test results would interpret for you.
Usually, in routine testing, results are categorized into three main groups or levels.
Optimum: This is considered as desirable or the no risk level. A Cholesterol count below 200 milligrams per deciliter (200 mg/dL) or 5.18 millimole per liter (5.18 mmol/L) is the ideal level for a healthy adult.
Risk: A Cholesterol count between 200 to 239 mg/dL (5.18 to 6.18 mmol/L) would mean there is reason for concern, but not to panic. Here, it is important to further analyze your blood in relation to your LDL and HDL levels, i.e. carry out a lipid profile. If the higher level is due to LDL Cholesterol or your bad Cholesterol, the risk is noteworthy, but if it’s due to your HDL Cholesterol levels, then the worry is less.
High Risk: If the level goes above 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L), then you are at great risk and will need to take immediate treatment. Based on your lipid profile findings, the cause of these high levels can be elucidated and the treatment regime can be determined accordingly.
These levels will vary for children and teenagers and the risk concerns will differ too.
Lipid Profile Testing
Your Cholesterol levels are not good and your doctor recommends you to do a ‘lipid profile’ test. Usually, such a test is carried out to determine if you are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. A lipid profile is carried out to determine the levels of your total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and your Triglyceride levels. It will also have your Cholesterol/HDL ratio and other important calculations that would help doctors draw conclusions on your health status. This is an important test for devising treatment options for those at risk of high Cholesterol levels.
Your doctor will set up a target for you to bring your Cholesterol back to desired levels. This target value will be determined based on various factors such as your lipid profile, age, sex, health condition, job stress and other related factors. If you stick to your doctors guidelines and follow a strict treatment plan, you can lower your risk levels and achieve healthy conditions again.
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