1. What Are Cholesterol Numbers?

Cholesterol numbers represent different types of lipids in your blood, including total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. These values help assess cardiovascular health and risk factors.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator computes important cholesterol ratios:

Where:

• Total Cholesterol — Combined measurement of all cholesterol types
• HDL — High-density lipoprotein ("good" cholesterol)
• LDL — Low-density lipoprotein ("bad" cholesterol)
• Triglycerides — Another type of fat in the blood

Explanation: These ratios provide a better assessment of cardiovascular risk than individual cholesterol values alone.

3. Importance Of Cholesterol Ratios

Details: Cholesterol ratios are important predictors of heart disease risk. Lower ratios generally indicate better cardiovascular health, while higher ratios suggest increased risk.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter your latest blood test results for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides in mg/dL. All values must be positive numbers from valid laboratory tests.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio?
A: Ideally below 5:1, with optimal being below 3.5:1. Higher ratios indicate increased cardiovascular risk.

Q2: Why are ratios better than individual numbers?
A: Ratios provide context about the balance between protective (HDL) and harmful (LDL) cholesterol types.

Q3: What is non-HDL cholesterol?
A: Non-HDL cholesterol represents all the "bad" cholesterol types combined, including LDL and VLDL.

Q4: How often should cholesterol be tested?
A: Adults should have cholesterol checked every 4-6 years, or more frequently if risk factors exist.

Q5: Can lifestyle changes improve cholesterol ratios?
A: Yes, diet, exercise, weight management, and smoking cessation can significantly improve cholesterol profiles.