1.To determine if I have hypercholesterolemia, what items do I need to measure?
Usually, your doctor will ask you to measure the following lipid items.
Total cholesterol (measures LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and other lipid components)
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
Triglycerides
Recently, many experts have suggested that measuring non-HDL cholesterol is a better predictor of risk than measuring LDL cholesterol in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Total cholesterol minus HDL
cholesterol equals non-HDL cholesterol, which includes all types of cholesterol that form plaque in the arterial wall. When a patient has high triglycerides, the doctor may be more concerned about
When a patient has high triglycerides, the doctor may focus more on lowering the patient’s non-HDL cholesterol.
2. What should be the target lipid level?
The following shows the target values for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad), HDL cholesterol (good), and triglycerides. The target values for non-HDL cholesterol vary with cardiovascular disease
risk factors and are always 30 points higher than the corresponding LDL cholesterol values (expressed in milligrams) in the table.
Lipid target values.
LDL Cholesterol Levels Judgment of LDL Cholesterol Levels
70mg/dL< Choice for some high-risk patients
100mg/dL< Optimal
100-129mg/dL Near optimal
130-159mg/dL Normal high
160-189mg/dL High
≥190mg/dL Very high
HDL cholesterol level Judgment of HDL cholesterol level
40mg/dL< Low
40-59mg/dL Acceptable, but higher is better
≥60mg/dL High
Total cholesterol level Judgment of total cholesterol level
200mg/dL< Acceptable
200-239mg/dL Normal high
≥240mg/dL High
Triglyceride level Judgment of triglyceride level
150mg/dL< Normal
150-199mg/dL Normal high
200-499mg/dL High
≥500mg/dL Very high
Appendix: Common medical terms for lipid metabolism disorders
Hypercholesterolemia: It is hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipoproteinemia.
Hypertriglyceridemia: high triglyceride levels in the blood.
Lipids: A general term for a group of fats, fat-like substances, oils, and waxy substances that are insoluble in water and are a source of energy for the body.
Dyslipidemia: Any disorder of cholesterol and or triglycerides, including high LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol), high triglyceride levels, and low HDL cholesterol levels.
Levels.
Lipid panel: A series of lipid laboratory tests that includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Total cholesterol: Includes LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and all other cholesterol components.
Non-HDL cholesterol: Total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol equals non-HDL cholesterol, which includes all types of cholesterol that form plaque in the arterial wall.