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Cholesterol levels should be measured at least once every five years by everyone over 40 years old. The screening test that is usually performed is a blood test called a fasting lipid profile. Experts recommend that men and women 40 years old and older should be routinely screened for lipid disorders.
The lipoprotein profile includes:
LDL (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "bad" cholesterol)
HDL (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "good" cholesterol)
Triglycerides (fats carried in the blood from the food we eat. Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.)
Results of your blood test will come in the forms of numbers. Here is how to interpret your cholesterol numbers:
LDL cholesterol
LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase your chances of getting heart disease. That is why LDL cholesterol is referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol. The lower your LDL cholesterol number, the better it is for your health. The table below explains what the numbers mean.
LDL cholesterol
LDL-cholesterol category
Less than 2.6
Optimal
2.6 - 3.3
Near optimal/above optimal
3.4 - 4.1
Borderline high
4.2 - 4.8
High
4.9 and above
Very high
If you have heart disease or blood vessel disease, some experts recommend that you should try to get your LDL cholesterol below 2.0. For people with diabetes or other multiple risk factors for heart disease, the treatment goal is to reach an LDL of less than 2.0.
HDL cholesterol
When it comes to HDL cholesterol - "good" cholesterol - the higher the number, the better it is for your health. This is because HDL cholesterol protects against heart disease by taking the "bad" cholesterol out of your blood and keeping it from building up in your arteries. The table below explains what the numbers mean.
HDL cholesterol
HDL-cholesterol category
1.5 and above
High; optimal; helps to lower risk of heart disease
Less than 1.0 in men and less than 1.2 in women
Low; considered a risk factor for heart disease
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and the body. A high triglyceride level has been linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people. Here's the breakdown.
Triglycerides
Triglyceride category
Less than 1.7
Normal
1.7 - 2.2
Borderline high
2.3 - 5.6
High
5.6 or higher
Very high
Total cholesterol
Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and other lipid components. Doctors recommend total cholesterol levels below 5.2 mmol/L.
Total Cholesterol
Category
Less than 5.2
Desirable
5.2-6.2
Borderline high
6.2 and above
High