By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Athlyn_Green] Athlyn Green In considering total cholesterol, the most common number you will be given will be your total blood cholesterol. While this reveals the amount of cholesterol in your blood, this is not the whole story. Other factors are important, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and the ratio between your total and HDL cholesterol. If you are wondering how certain numbers are arrived at or how to calculate total cholesterol, most tests actually measure: Blood cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
Triglycerides Guidelines suggest that if you are at higher risk for heart disease or stroke, your target levels should be lower for LDL and for your total cholesterol to HDL ratio. What numbers are relevant if you are wondering how to calculate total cholesterol? Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL
Your LDL should be less than 130 mg/dL
Your HDL should be 60 or higher
Your total cholesterol/HDL ratio should be less than 5.0
Your triglycerides should be less than 150 Who Should Be Tested? Men over 40
Women over 50
Post-menopausal women
Diabetics
Those with high blood pressure
People who are obese (especially in the abdominal area)
Men having erectile difficulties
Smokers
Persons who have an inherited genetic predisposition When deciding upon target levels for you, your doctor will take into consideration your age, gender, blood pressure, and whether you smoke or have diabetes. These are all factors that might increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. In undertaking how to calculate total cholesterol, tests will help your doctor to determine amounts and what steps may be needed to safeguard your coronary health. Your doctor will discuss lifestyle changes or use of medication to bring about necessary adjustments to blood levels. In evaluating your total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio, it is important to remember that HDL aids the body in eliminating cholesterol. Adopting habits that boost levels of HDL can make a significant difference. When considering [http://www.healthy-cholesterol-guide.com/ldl_cholesterol.html] how to calculate total cholesterol, it may also be helpful to remember that another ratio is LDL/HDL. This is actually a purer ratio because LDL is a measure of bad cholesterol and HDL is a measure of good cholesterol. Accordingly, lifestyle changes should also seek to lower LDL levels. Finally, total cholesterol is the sum of HDL, LDL, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Indeed, adding up the HDL, LDL and VLDL makes up the total cholesterol measurement. Heart-Friendly Tips For Managing HDL And LDL Eat white meat and reduce or eliminate consumption of red meats
Remove skin and fat from chicken
Switch to low-fat dairy products, dressings, and mayonnaise
Make eating grains, fruit, and vegetables a regular part of your eating plan
Include seeds and nuts
Eat beans
Consume fatty fish
Switch to olive, nut, or seed oils Other Lifestyle Changes Exercise regularly
Reduce stress
Stop smoking
Cut down on coffee Other strategies include using natural remedies to balance and correct undesirable cholesterol levels. Plant compounds can be as effective or exceed statin drugs. Plant phytochemicals, polyphenols, sterols, flavonoids, catechins (antioxidant plant metabolites), and oils render significant beneficial effects, without the risk of unwanted and painful reactions associated with cholesterol-lowering drugs. Policosanol is derived from sugar cane and is known to reduce LDL and raise HDL; lecithin oil is used for treatment of high cholesterol; vitamin E is used for treating atherosclerosis; oryzanol rice bran oil contains beneficial phytosterols (phytochemicals) with their cholesterol-lowering properties. In fact, many products are now being enriched with phytosterols. Another substance is green tea, which has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. It is chock full of beneficial catechin polyphenols. Research reveals that green tea lowers total cholesterol levels and improves the ratio of good (HDL) to bad (LDL). It also inhibits abnormal formation of blood clots, which is significant because thrombosis is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Making lifestyle changes and using natural substances can be safe approaches to managing blood cholesterol levels and safeguarding your health. Always seek out appropriate medical advice. Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to [http://www.healthy-cholesterol-guide.com] Total Cholesterol, a section of [http://www.healthy-cholesterol-guide.com] http://www.healthy-cholesterol-guide.com dedicated to natural treatments for high cholesterol and heart disease prevention. Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Athlyn_Green ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Athlyn_Green [http://ezinearticles.com/?Total-Cholesterol:-How-Is-It-Calculated-What-Do-Numbers-Mean&id=420050 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Total-Cholesterol:-How-Is-It-Calculated-What-Do-Numbers-Mean&id=420050 phentermine online cod
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