What Do Your Cholesterol Numbers Mean?

While we're bombarded with information on how to lower our cholesterol, many people really don't understand-or even know-their cholesterol numbers, or what they should be doing to improve those numbers.

"Total cholesterol," "LDL cholesterol," "HDL cholesterol," "good cholesterol," "bad cholesterol," and "triglycerides" are terms we often hear in relation to cholesterol levels, heart disease risk, and overall health. What those numbers mean is a puzzle to many people.

LDL cholesterol is the "bad cholesterol," because it can stick to the inside of your arteries, building up a surface of plaque which can cause atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This form of cholesterol can be very harmful to our health. Your LDL cholesterol number needs to be less than 100 mg/dL. This is an important number to know and watch when you have your cholesterol levels checked.

You should also know your HDL level. HDL, good cholesterol, latches onto LDL cholesterol and transports it to the liver, keeping it from building up in your arteries. HDL cholesterol, then, is desirable, and you want your HDL number to be 60 mg/dL or above.

You may hear your "total cholesterol levels" discussed. This would be the sum of your LDL cholesterol and your HDL cholesterol. This number does not mean much on its own, because it is the levels of the individual cholesterols that really matters. For instance, if your LDL cholesterol was 190 and your HDL cholesterol was 10, your total

holesterol would still be only 200, but that would not be a good combination of HDL and LDL cholesterol.

You will also hear about triglyceride levels. This is another type of fat circulating in your blood. While it is not cholesterol, it poses serious health risks, and you should keep your triglyceride levels as low as possible. A healthy number for triglycerides would fall under 150 mg/dL.

One of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being is to understand your cholesterol numbers and know where those numbers fall and what you need to do to decrease LDL and trigylcerides and increase HDL. Understanding what the numbers mean is the first step in creating a healthy lifestyle.

The amount of information floating around the Internet and the media about cholesterol is staggering. Sometimes it can seem impossible to understand. But by knowing that LDL needs to be below 100 mg/dL, HDL above 60 mg/dL, and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL, you're well on your way to conquering cholesterol and staying healthy.

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George McKenzie is a retired TV anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to Health Information Articles, a resource site about health and wellness.