I feel like I’m getting called down to the principal’s office. I got my blood work back, and the doctor wants to call me into the office to “discuss the results.” Here are my results.
My cholesterol is 197. Now some people would say this is good (most people try to get under 200). However, my HDL is 42, and my LDL is 143. My glucose is 105. What does that mean?
According to an article at Webmd here is cholesterol in English.
LDL is also called “bad cholesterol” — Sperling suggests that you think of the “L” as standing for lousy. LDL cholesterol can clog your arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Most people should aim for a level of less than 100 mg/dL. However, people who already have heart disease may need to aim for under 70 mg/dL. (mine is 143).
HDL is “good cholesterol.” Imagine the “H” stands for healthy. This type of cholesterol attaches to bad cholesterol and brings it to the liver, where it’s filtered out of the body. So HDL cholesterol reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in your system. You should aim for 60 mg/dL or higher. (mine is 42).
Triglycerides are not cholesterol but another type of fat floating in your blood. Just as with bad cholesterol, having a high level of triglycerides increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. Aim for a level of less than 150 mg/dL.
So although we all talk about high cholesterol risks, the term is a little misleading. What we really mean is high levels of bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and a low level of good HDL cholesterol.
What about total cholesterol, which is the sum of your LDL and HDL? While anything under 200 mg/dL is still considered the target, most experts don’t focus on the number. It doesn’t mean all that much. “Someone can have a total cholesterol of under 200 — which is lower than average for Americans — but still have unhealthy levels of HDL or LDL.”
Normal blood glucose levels typically register between 70 and 150 mg. (mine is 105).
In 2005 almost a quarter of American adults said they hadn’t had their cholesterol checked in the last five years. You could be setting yourself up for heart issues, high blood pressure, and more. Do it today.
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