LDL, HDL, Cholesterol test results

NHS UK

The government advises http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/NHSHealthCheck/Pages/Healthycholesterol.aspx

 that adults should have:

• Total cholesterol lower than 5mmol/L
• LDL cholesterol lower than 3mmol/L

LabtestOnline

What does the HDL test result mean?

reposted from: http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/hdl/test.html

High levels of HDL cholesterol are better than low HDL cholesterol.  The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower risk of developing heart disease. There are two ways that HDL cholesterol values are interpreted—as a percent of total cholesterol or as a measured value.  

• Percent: If HDL is 20% of the total cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is average. If HDL is more than 20% of the total cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is less than average. This is usually expressed as a ratio of cholesterol to HDL. It is desirable for the cholesterol/HDL ratio to be less than 5.
• Measured Value: If HDL cholesterol is less than 1.0 mmol/L in men or less than 1.2 mmol/L in women, there is an increased risk of heart disease. A desirable level of HDL is greater than 1.0 mmol/L for men and greater than 1.2mmol/L for women and is associated with average risk of heart disease. A good level of HDL is 1.5 mmol/L or more and is associated with a less than average risk of heart disease.

HDL should be interpreted in the context of the overall findings from the lipid profile and in consultation with your doctor about other risk factors for heart disease.

What does the Cholesterol test result mean? 

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/test.html

The cholesterol level measured in your blood will be considered along with other risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, smoking etc.) when assessing your overall risk of developing heart disease. This overall assessment is what will be used to decide whether or not you require further treatment in the form of dietary changes or drugs to lower your cholesterol level.
If you are taking treatment to lower your cholesterol, the target is to lower your total cholesterol to a value less than 4 mmol/L, with a fall of around 20-25%.

What does the LDL test result mean?

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/ldl/test.html#what

Elevated levels of LDL indicate risk for heart disease. Treatment (with diet or drugs) for high LDL aims to lower LDL to a target value of less than 3 mmol/L.

This is especially important if you have other risk factors for heart disease. Risk factors include cigarette smoking, hypertension, low HDL (< 1 mmol/L), family history, age (male 55 or older; female 65 or older), being overweight, and failure to exercise regularly.