Controlling Cholesterol

HDL And LDL Cholesterol Ratio: Calculate Cholesterol Ratios

What  HDL and LDL Cholesterol ratios are considered good?

HDL and LDL Cholesterol ratios must be considered in assessing the risk of heart disease.

• HDL levels ranging from 35 to 50mg/dL are considered normal. But some people may have HDL as high as 75mg/dL. Level’s below 35mg/dL is found to increase a person’s risk of heart disease, although some people with very low total cholesterol (160mg/dL or lower) have an HDL cholesterol level below 35mg/dL with no visible increased risk. According to various studies there was a decrease of 2 to 3 percent in risk of coronary heart disease with an increase of 1mg/dL in HDL cholesterol.
• If the LDL cholesterol level is above 150mg/dL it is considered high. Levels ranging from 130 to 149mg/dL is considered borderline high. Amounts less than 130mg/dL are considered desirable and those less than 100mg/dL is considered to reverse coronary heart disease.
• Researchers feel that HDL and LDL cholesterol  ratios appear to be better predictors of heart disease than total cholesterol alone. So doctors sometimes come up with ratio of one blood lipid to another. Doctors use Total Cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, this ratio helps to identify and point-out risks.
• Total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio greater than 6:1 warns of heart disease. A ratio of less than 6:1 seems to protect against heart disease.
• Some doctors also consider LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratios. An LDL to HDL ratio higher than 4:1 is predisposing to heart disease whereas a ratio less than 4:1 is protective.

How do we calculate cholesterol ratios?

• If you are aware of your Total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels then you can obtain the cholesterol ratios on your own.
• Total Cholesterol divided by HDL helps to obtain total cholesterol to HDL ratio.
• The same applies to LDL to HDL ratio.

Are the Cholesterol ratios beneficial?

Total cholesterol to HDL seems to be particularly good predictor of coronary artery disease. Experts feel that one should always look at the figures themselves too, because they feel that some ratios can be misleading and thereby disagree on the values of ratios.