Cholesterol Levels : Reference range values
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ATP-III Classification of LDL, Total, and HDL Cholesterol levels
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LDL Cholesterol
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Primary Target of Therapy
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Total Cholesterol
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Primary Target of Therapy
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<100 mg/dL
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Optimal
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<200 mg/dL
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Desirable
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100-129 mg/dL
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Near optimal/above optimal
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200-239 mg/dL
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Borderline high
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130-159 mg/dL
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Borderline high
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≥240 mg/dL
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High
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160-189 mg/dL
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High
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HDL Cholesterol
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≥190 mg/dL
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Very high
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<40 mg/dL
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Low
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≥60 mg/dL
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High
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Raise your awareness on your cholesterol to understand how cholesterol levels testing works! This is the charge to understanding your cholesterol levels. The cholesterol levels testing measurements and reliability of the cholesterol levels must be assumed reliable and performed by a certified laboratory. Understanding what a reference rage is also important. When you review your cholesterol levels results, understanding where your test result is in comparison to the reference range is very helpful.
Cholesterol is a steroid that is essential for life as it forms cellular membranes. It is also used by the body to make Vitamin D and other hormones that are essential for development, growth, and reproduction. Cholesterol also forms bile acids that are needed to absorb nutrients from food. A small amount of your body’s fat circulates in the blood in the form of complex particles called lipoproteins. There are basically two important types of lipoproteins when cholesterol levels are tested: High Density Lipoproteins (
HDL) and Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL). Cholesterol, as a kind of fat, also has HDL and LDL varieties. Cholesterol type HDL-C is taken in excess for disposal. For this reason is called good cholesterol. LDL-C type deposits in tissues and organs (bad cholesterol).
The liver produces the cholesterol needed to work properly, but the source for some cholesterol is one’s diet. If you have a predisposition for high cholesterol levels or if you eat foods that are high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and Trans unsaturated fats, then cholesterol levels in your blood will be affected. The extra cholesterol in your blood may deposit in plaques on the walls of blood vessels. This can narrow blood vessels, leading to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol is not used to diagnose or monitor a disease but is used to estimate risk of developing a disease. Its concentration is measured by means of analysis of a blood sample drawn from the vein in the arm. Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger.
Purpose of the Cholesterol Test
Testing for cholesterol levels is used to determine the concentration of different types of cholesterol in the blood with the intention of screen for risk of developing heart disease. Adults should be tested at least once every five years if being treated for high cholesterol or have one or more risk factors for heart disease. Children and adolescents with risk factors should also have their cholesterol level checked. This test is usually ordered together with other tests. A full lipid profile includes measurement of the actual levels of each type of fat in the body: HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides and others. Cholesterol is tested at more frequent intervals in patients who have been prescribed diet and/or drugs to lower their cholesterol in order to know how well these measures are succeeding in lowering cholesterol levels.
Abnormal Cholesterol Levels findings
Most common causes of high cholesterol levels are:
• Genetic predisposition
• Excessive fat intake, saturated and trans unsaturated fats
• Pregnancy
• Consumption of some drugs such as anabolic steroids, beta blockers, epinephrine, oral contraceptives, and vitamin D.
Low cholesterol levels can be the result of Malaria.
Cholesterol levels are increased with age, male gender and during winter, while are lower during spring and summer.