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Posted on August 19, 2008 by Balva Rudick | Posted under Health
Cholesterol Readings: What Do They Mean?
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Here is a little bit of insight on what good and bad cholesterol mean. The good cholesterol, the so called HDL or high density lipoproteins, can help remove the bad cholesterol, LDL low density lipoproteins - , from the blood. From there, it gets back in the liver from where it is taken out the body. The damage that LDL can do focuses especially on hardened arteries. When the arteries get clogged with plaques of LDL, they can lead to the appearance of a coronary artery disease, and even to a heart attack. Also, when the plaque breaks into a blood clot, a stroke may be caused. When you read the total number on your cholesterol readings paper, you actually read the sum between HDL and LDL. If this number must be lowered, only your physician can say, as well as about the methods for reducing it. Your physician will be interested in LDL levels, as this is the bad cholesterol we talked about. The risks that LDL cause for a persons health cannot be neglected. Here are the meanings for cholesterol readings that you can also understand: - when the total number for cholesterol readings is less than 200 mg/dl, or the number for LDL levels is less than 130 mg/dl, it is considered that the readings are normal and you have little chances of getting ill due to the cholesterol; - when the total number is somewhere between 200-239 mg/dl, or the level for LDL is 130-159 mg/dl, it is said that cholesterol readings are borderline high; with such levels, the person that had the test done, must consider changing a little the lifestyle they follow, by eating more healthy foods, and to exercise more, so they can reduce the level of cholesterol; no special medication is required; - a high cholesterol reading is when the total level is more than 240 mg/dl and the LDL level is more than 160 mg/dl; this leaves no room for doubt the person taking the test should consider an important diet change, as well as an exercise program; plus, they will need to follow the prescription given by the doctor. The figures we gave you so far refer to the traditional way of calculating cholesterol readings. For the second school of thought that focuses on the ratio between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, this is the right calculation: the total level of cholesterol is divided by the HDL level if the ratio shows a number that is more than four, then the person needs to reduce the total and the bad cholesterol levels. In order to eliminate any suspicions about your cholesterol levels, ask your doctor to run a blood test, so you can take it out of your mind. In case the cholesterol readings are too high, the doctor will tell you what you do about it. About The Author: Balva Rudick is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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