What Do My Cholesterol Results Mean?

While booking the appointment may be a simple task, blood test results are often both daunting and confusing for many. This easy to read article covers the basics for you.

Cardiovascular disease is the no. 1 killer of women globally, it has been considered the single biggest killer in the Western world. Statistics published by the American Heart Association in 2013 are alarming, that 85.6 million Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease and on average, around 2200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. Cardiovascular disease is the underlying cause of 1 in every 3 deaths in the US (1 402 204 in 2013). 

In New Zealand, one in twenty one adults live with heart disease, it is also the leading cause of death (33%) in New Zealand (The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand).

Understand Your Risk with Blood Tests

Blood tests can help to diagnose a condition or to monitor someone who has already been diagnosed with a heart condition. It can measure the level of substances in your blood, such as blood fats (e.g. cholesterol and triglycerides) and minerals. Below is the list of the four tests for predicting your risk factors for heart disease:

  1. Cholesterol - both LDL and HDL
  2. Triglycerides
  3. C-Reactive Protein
  4. Homocysteine


    If you are arranging these tests through your physician suggest that she/he also carries out other standard tests at the same time for Liver Function, Renal Function, carbohydrate metabolism, and if a male over 40, a PSA test and of course any other tests they may recommend.

    There are also others such as Lipoprotein (a) and Apoliprotein A1 and B. They are useful tests if you find that your Cholesterol levels are out of line and you need additional data. Ask your physician about them if your cholesterol tests come up poor.

    Understanding Your Cholesterol Test Results

    Many people thought the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream is directly related to your diet. While diet is one of the factors in influencing cholesterol levels, it is a relatively small one as over 80% of your blood cholesterol is manufactured by your liver.

    A lot of people do not fully appreciate how essential cholesterol is for good health. This non-soluble waxy substance is what your body needs for making hormones, cell walls and nerve sheaths. It is transported around your body in two different forms.

    1. LDL or the 'bad' cholesterol
    2. HDL or the 'good' cholesterol


    LDL transports the cholesterol to your cells whereas HDL travels around in your bloodstream picking up excess cholesterol and taking it back to your liver for reprocessing. Sort of like a garbage collector! Too much LDL creates the risk of clogging up your arteries which can lead to heart failure or stroke. Likewise not enough HDL will result in the same problem due to inadequate 'housekeeping'. Ideally you want your HDL score to be high and your LDL score to be low.

    Total Cholesterol Levels LDL Cholesterol Levels ('bad') HDL Cholesterol Levels ('good')

    Normal - Up to 199 mg/dL
    Optimal - Between 180 - 220 mg/dL

    Normal - Up to 129 mg/dL
    Optimal - Under 100 mg/dL

    Normal - No lower than 40 mg/dL
    Optimal - Over 60 mg/dL

    What are Triglycerides?

    Triglycerides are another major risk factor in heart disease. Excess levels will thicken your blood, make it 'sludgy' which in turn leads to a risk of clotting that in turn can cause a blockage which triggers off a heart attack or stroke.

    It is now believed that the triglycerides/HDL ratio is one of the most important predictors of heart disease (more accurate than the LDL/HDL ratio,) with a study showing that those with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL having 16 times the risk of heart attack as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL.

    Triglyceride Levels Triglyceride : HDL Ratio

    Normal - Up to 199 mg/dL
    Optimal - Under 150 mg/dL

    Normal – Anything under 3:5
    Optimal – 2:1

     

    Why C-Reactive Protein?

    The presence of C-Reactive Protein in your blood indicates the presence of inflammation in your blood. Studies have shown that high levels of this inflammation is an accurate predictor of future heart problems. It was even concluded in a recent paper that CRP outperformed LDL cholesterol as a predictor of cardiovascular risk.

    C-Reactive Protein Levels
    Normal - Up to 3.0 mg/L
    Optimal - Under 1.0 mg/L

    What is Homocysteine?

    Studies have established that around 10% of coronary deaths are caused as a direct result of excessive homocysteine. In these cases the victims were within the 'safe' limits of their blood lipid readings including cholesterol.

    Homocysteine is an abnormal protein created by the metabolization of the amino acid methionine. In most people it is normally cleared out of the arteries quickly and is therefore not a problem... but with some people it does not and as such it should not be overlooked as it is a genuine marker of potential heart disease.

    Interestingly, elevated levels of homocysteine result not from what you eat but rather from what you DON'T eat. Studies have shown that a deficiency of nutrients and in particular the B group of vitamins prevent your body from producing the enzymes needed that remove homocysteine from your blood.

    Homocysteine Levels
    Normal - Up to 15 micro mol/L
    Optimal - Under 10 micro mol/L

    Take action today

    If you haven't already, remember to get your blood tested and maybe talk to your doctor. It is critical to address risk factors early in life to prevent heart issues and other potential complications of chronic cardiovascular disease.

    For information on preventative measures, please read through our heart collection page for the best regimes for heart support and protection.

    7 Responses

    Informative article.

    Arnold Y Chong April 29 2017

    In Australia, blood tests for cholesterol show where the cholesterol level is – either within or above a desired range desired range. For example, total cholesterol should be 5.5 or below. Mine was always at or below 5.5. A couple of years ago, my GP stated that I would never have a problem – that it would never go up – unless I put on weight – which he did not think would happen – and – hasn’t. However, my total cholesterol is now 7.5. He never goes into much detail about the whole thing – and I know there is a strong relationship with the thyroid – which I also do not understand – and has not been explained to me. My TSH is currently 4.6. It used to be much lower. I am a 56 year old female. Any info./ advice you could help me with would be gratefully appreciated!!

    Christine Murgatroyd February 10 2017

    Hi Christine Murgatroyd,

    It is great to hear that you are being proactive about your health and looking for a supplement to support your wellbeing. As we are not qualified medical professionals, I cannot advise on your personal cholesterol levels and recommend asking your doctor to explain these to you, as they are in the best position to do so.

    Cholesterol balance is very delicate and may vary due to a range of influences such as dietary and lifestyle factors, heredity, aging and other preexisting conditions. For some people, one of these may be thyroid health; as thyroid hormones are needed to produce ‘good’ cholesterol, as well remove ‘bad’ cholesterol that may be in excess in the body.


    In order to naturally support healthy cholesterol, we highly recommend our fantastic naturally blend
    <a href= /supplements/specialty-products/lipi-rite >Lipi-Rite. Furthermore, using our
    <a href= /supplements/omega-3/omega-3-qh-ultra >Omega 3 / QH Ultra at the same time helps provide valuable additional cardiovascular support. As with any supplement, the best results will come from using these products in conjunction with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and good fats, along with regular physical exercise.


    Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help you with an order at any time Christine.

    Customer Relations April 20 2017

    Hi Murray Paterson,
    To answer your first comment: It is great to see that you conduct in-depth research regarding your health, as there is a vast amount of information available online in this day and age. It can be difficult to judge which is genuine, over some which may be bogus, unfounded claims. The USA have altered their cholesterol guidelines in recent times, as research has found that high LDL levels are not always linked to eventual cardiovascular disease, as was believed in the past. However, this research is open to debate depending on the viewpoint of the audience. Studies such as this do not impact on our confidence in recommending our product Lipi-Rite to support healthy cholesterol in a natural, gentle manner.


    Regarding your second comment: Elevated homocysteine levels may be connected to an increased risk of heart disease in some cases and can be used as a useful diagnostic tool. As we are not medical professional we cannot advise on the specifics of this in your personal situation. We encourage you to speak with your doctor, as they can provide the very best information to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time if we can help in placing an order.

    Customer Relations April 20 2017

    Hi Henry. It is great to hear that you are being proactive about your health and looking for a supplement to support your well being. Taking Lipi-Rite with our Omega 3 QH Ultra could be a great start for you. Both supplements may help with both balancing your cholesterol levels, as well as lowering your triglycerides naturally. Our cholesterol health may vary depending on a range of influences such as our diet and lifestyle. It is very important to limit the consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white flour, cookies, cakes, white bread and white pasta. Eating plenty of protein-rich foods such as fish, nuts, seeds, legumes and also those high in fibre including oats, bran, psyllium, vegetables and fruits is preferable. Ideally we would suggest using both of these supplements for around three months in order to be able to best judge the results. This allows ample time for any nutrients that may have been lacking in the body to become fully replenished and for you to feel your best. Please et us know if you have any other questions Henry, our friendly Customer Care team will be happy to help. You can reach us on customer.service@xtend-life.com. In good health, Korina

    Customer Relations November 30 2017

    I have my blood test results Cholesterol 204.97mg/dlink Triglycerides 370.35mg/dl HDL 1.02 LDL 2.39 Glucose 4.5 Please advise what best supplement for me?

    Henry loh November 30 2017

    It’s good to know what going on in the body and make us to ask our Doctor where he is wrong.

    Dr Uday s shah April 27 2017

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