Analyze your cholesterol levels and calculate important ratios to assess your cardiovascular health risk. Enter your lipid profile values to get comprehensive insights.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels can increase your risk of heart disease. A lipid profile test measures four key components that together paint a picture of your cardiovascular health.
The sum of all cholesterol in your blood, including LDL, HDL, and other lipid components.
Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline High: 200-239 mg/dL
High: 240 mg/dL or higher
Low-density lipoprotein carries cholesterol to your arteries, where it can build up as plaque and increase heart disease risk.
Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL
Near Optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
Borderline High: 130-159 mg/dL
High: 160-189 mg/dL
Very High: 190 mg/dL or higher
High-density lipoprotein helps remove cholesterol from your arteries and transport it to your liver for disposal. Higher levels are protective.
Poor (Men): Less than 40 mg/dL
Poor (Women): Less than 50 mg/dL
Better: 50-59 mg/dL
Best: 60 mg/dL or higher
The most common type of fat in your body, stored from excess calories. High levels increase heart disease risk.
Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline High: 150-199 mg/dL
High: 200-499 mg/dL
Very High: 500 mg/dL or higher
Cholesterol ratios provide additional insight into your cardiovascular risk beyond individual cholesterol numbers:
This ratio compares your total cholesterol to your HDL (good) cholesterol. A lower ratio indicates better cardiovascular health.
Optimal: Less than 3.5
Good: 3.5-5.0
Borderline: 5.0-6.0
High Risk: Greater than 6.0
This ratio compares bad cholesterol to good cholesterol. Lower ratios indicate better balance and lower cardiovascular risk.
Optimal: Less than 2.0
Good: 2.0-3.0
Borderline: 3.0-4.0
High Risk: Greater than 4.0
This emerging marker helps assess insulin resistance and metabolic health. Lower ratios are better.
Ideal: Less than 2.0
Acceptable: 2.0-4.0
High Risk: Greater than 4.0
Making lifestyle changes can significantly improve your cholesterol profile and reduce cardiovascular risk:
Regular cholesterol screening is important for preventing heart disease. Testing recommendations vary based on age and risk factors:
Get a complete lipid profile every 4-6 years if you have no risk factors. More frequent testing is needed if you have high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, or other risk factors.
Test every 1-2 years, as cardiovascular risk increases with age. More frequent monitoring may be needed based on results and risk factors.
Test annually, as age is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Work closely with your healthcare provider to manage cholesterol levels.
If you have diabetes, heart disease, family history of high cholesterol, or are taking cholesterol medications, you may need testing every 3-12 months to monitor treatment effectiveness.
When lifestyle changes aren't enough to control cholesterol, medications may be necessary. Common options include:
The most commonly prescribed cholesterol medications. They work by blocking a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol, reducing LDL by 20-60%. Examples include atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin.
These medications bind to bile acids in your intestines, prompting your liver to use cholesterol to make more bile acids, thus lowering blood cholesterol. Can reduce LDL by 10-20%.
Newer injectable medications that help the liver absorb more LDL cholesterol. Very effective, reducing LDL by 50-60%, but expensive and typically reserved for high-risk patients.
Primarily used to lower triglycerides and can modestly increase HDL. Often prescribed in combination with statins for people with high triglycerides.
Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any cholesterol medication. They will consider your overall cardiovascular risk, other health conditions, and potential side effects.
Yes. While diet and weight affect cholesterol, genetics play a significant role. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that causes high cholesterol regardless of lifestyle. About 1 in 250 people have this condition.
With consistent lifestyle changes, you may see improvements in 3-6 months. Dietary changes can lower LDL by 5-10% within weeks, while weight loss and exercise effects accumulate over months. Medications work faster, often showing results within 4-6 weeks.
Current research shows dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol than previously thought for most people. Saturated and trans fats have a much greater effect. However, some individuals are "hyper-responders" and should still limit dietary cholesterol.
While rare, extremely low cholesterol (below 120 mg/dL total) may be associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke, depression, and other health issues. However, for most people, lower LDL cholesterol is better for heart health, especially if achieved through healthy lifestyle habits.
Fasting (9-12 hours) is typically recommended for the most accurate triglyceride measurement, though recent guidelines suggest non-fasting tests may be acceptable for initial screening. Total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL are less affected by recent meals. Follow your doctor's instructions.