What is a Healthy Cholesterol Reading - Understanding the Numbers

Doctors measure our weight, blood pressure, age and height. They take our blood and look at sugars, toxins and cholesterol counts until sometimes we wonder what all of those numbers mean. The results can sound scary or just plain confusing. All of the data combined provides a full picture of individual health and what values are best for us. This differs for everyone because none of is exactly the same as anyone else. Many may wonder: what is a healthy cholesterol reading? You should be looking at four different figures.

There is such a thing as good (HDL) cholesterol. Most people think of all cholesterol as bad (LDL). Triglycerides and total blood or serum cholesterol round out the four numbers.

This last number is a combination of LDL and HDL counts. Having a high reading may be a source of concern. Then again, this depends on the balance between good and bad. For example, your HDL might be quite high and give a distorted total figure. Around 200 mg/dL or less is a good level.

For good cholesterol more is better. Men want a minimum of 40mg/dL, women 50mg/dL. Female hormones tend to raise these amounts, so if your estrogen levels are high this will mitigate your HDL numbers positively.

LDL numbers are what give individuals the most cause for concern. Ideal numbers fall around one hundred or less. A figure of 100-129 is considered acceptable.

One can see where the number 200 for a total count would make sense. A figure of 100 LDL plus 60 HDL would give a total below the 200, but 120 LDL and 80 HDL could also be considered reasonable. Your doctor would consider the one count to protect against damage by the other. Also, your triglyceride count and lifestyle habits would be taken into consideration.

Healthy triglyceride levels should fall below 150ml/dL. Should this reading be higher your risk of developing heart disease becomes elevated. To maintain good levels you want to assess what you eat, drink, activity levels and smoking. This last one negatively impacts all areas of health. If your figures hover on the margins, there is the chance that switching to a low-fat, whole food diet full of cholesterol fighting foods plus getting more exercise could reverse an increased risk of heart disease and lower the total serum count. Experts recommend getting these counts checked every five years after the age of twenty. Of course, any history of cholesterol problems in the family should prompt you to get checked-out even more frequently.

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