Posted by Pegene 3 years ago In:

cholesterol

Cholesterol Numbers

Which is more important, TOTAL cholesterol or the Ratio. I have high cholesterol (250) only because I have a very high HDL (135). My doctor says I should take medicine to lower my TOTAL cholesterol. Why bother with HDL or LDL #'s, if all they talk about is the TOTAL # and that it should be under 200. ???????????

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2 Answers

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curlyfries2 Answered:

This is a complicated issue. Cholesterol recommendations are to have high HDL levels, while it is recommended to have lower LDLs. Yet it is also recommended to not have a combined total over 200.

Considering that the target HDL level is "above 60 mg/dl," it seems that 135 might be a tad too high.

Posted 2 years ago

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Bill Jones Answered:

I am not an expert but have researched extensively on cholesterol since I had three stents put in. Total cholesterol over 200 is an indicator of problems. However total under 200 can still be bad if your LDL is 100 to 135 and your HDL is below 50. My total was 190 so my doctor did not do a lipid panel very often. When a lipid panel was done my LDL was 135, HDL 35, and VLDL 20. The high LDL and low HDL led to my clogged arteries. I cut out almost all saturated fats from my diet and started exercising 3 to 5 days a week. This was in 2001. My numbers dropped to 140 total with LDL 70, HDL 50 and VLDL 20. I eat turkey instead of beef in burgers, meatballs, chili and other items. Fat free ice cream, milk, cheese, coolwhip, salad dressing, etc. Going fat free is not a problem when your life depends on it. My wife and daughter cook and bake with heart healthy ingredients. The thing to eliminate is SATURATED FAT.

I have read that cholesterol works as follows: VLDL's carry fat from the liver to the body. After delevering the fat to the cells they become LDL's. On the way back to the liver the LDL's may accumulate in the arteries causing blockages. The HDL's pick up the LDL's from the arteries and take them back to the liver where they are excreated. Some experts believe that if the ratio of Total divided by HDL's is 3 or lower the clogging can be reversed. My ratio is 140/50=2.8. A ratio over 4 should be reason for concern. Based on what I have read a high level of HDL should not be a problem. That is why the target is greater than 60. I am 70 years young.