by Rajeev Sahadevan
Published Thu, Mar 31st 2016, 11:53 | Health
Once we get our cholesterol level checked through blood test, we get a lot of values against the types of cholesterol. Here comes the main question is how to calculate cholesterol ratio? Your values will be reported against LDL and HDL and at times the total value of your cholesterol will also be mentioned. If not, one can calculate it by adding the LDL, HDL and 20% of the triglycerides which is a form of fat that is carried in the blood. It is one of the most common types of fat that is present in the body which may vary according to the age and sex. When the level of triglycerides along with cholesterol goes high, the chance for the deposition in the arterial walls increases leading to the condition atherosclerosis which increases the chance for one to have a heart attack or stroke. One should always see to it that that your sum should fall below 200. Your blood report will show the cholesterol value in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/ dl).
Choleslo which is a pill that helps in lowering cholesterol level has proved to be great miracle creator for cholesterol patients. Choleslo has helped many to bring down the cholesterol ratio to normal range lowering the risk of heart disease. Choleslo should not be misused as fat burner or weight loss supplement.
CHOLESTEROL RATIO
Cholesterol ratio gives a wider zone for cholesterol value to be in healthy state. It can be valued by dividing the total cholesterol by HDL value. For example if the blood report shows total cholesterol of 200 and HDL value is 80, your cholesterol ratio is 200/ 80 which gives a value of 2.5which is your cholesterol ratio.
IS MY CHOLESTEROL RATIO NORMAL?
American Heart Association says that 5 is safe zone of cholesterol in cholesterol ratio and 3.5 is ideal cholesterol ratio. One should take special care and adopt methods to lower the level of cholesterol ratio than 5.
RISK
The risk value of women and men differs as the level of HDL always remains high in women.
The Harvard Medical school states that cholesterol ratio of 5 signifies a risk of heart disease in men. If the ratio reaches up to 9.6 the chance for heart disease doubles. If the cholesterol ratio is 3.4 one can sit back and tag themselves in ideal cholesterol level.
For women a value of cholesterol ratio of 4.4 signifies average risk for heart disease. If the ratio rises up to 7 the risky chance doubles and when it comes to half-3.3 it indicates half the average risk.
Other health risks include poor digestive system, stress buildup, overweight problems such as obesity and so on.
SAME CHOLESTEROL VALUE, DIFFERENT RATIO
Imagine you and your friend gets a blood test done for cholesterol, if you are people who do not know how to calculate cholesterol ratio, you would have just checked if your cholesterol level is below 200. But can you believe, that though the cholesterol comes in 200 there’s a chance of you to be in a risky category for heart disease. For example if your cholesterol and your friends cholesterol shows 200 but the HDL value differs- 30 for you and 50 for your friend. There shows a tremendous difference in the cholesterol ratio difference in yours and your friend’s ratio. Your value would be 200/30 which is 6 (cholesterol ratio) and your friends value would be 200/60 which is 3. This ratio will place you in a higher risk list.
HDL – THE VARIENCE
HDL is named as good cholesterol as it has the ability to sponge up the cholesterol from the blood vessel walls and transport it to liver for disposal whereas the LDL deposits the fat and plaques that are dangerous in to the vessel wall leading to the risky health status like- atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke and hence named as bad cholesterol. The value of HDL makes up to 20-30% of total cholesterol.
HDL normal value is 40 for men and 50 for women. One should put an extra awareness to create not only their total cholesterol below 200 but also to make their HDL value in normal range.
If you have many other systemic problems in your body, it is difficult to remember the different numbers or values of the types of cholesterol in your body- HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol value. It’s easy for one to remember one number- cholesterol ratio. This is applicable only to those who have their bad cholesterol in control.
EVALUATION
AHA supports that the values of total cholesterol and HDL value separately are more effective in finalizing the cholesterol lowering treatments. But both the separate numbers and the ratio help to determine the overall risk of heart disease. Once you are reported with high cholesterol value, your doctor will also look for cholesterol ratio. If the ratio falls below it indicates an average risk and hence the doctor will consider treatments according to the need and condition. The ratio will help you to set proper plans and diet modifications and physical exercise to keep your cholesterol numbers in a healthy range.
YOUR TREATMENT
Your cholesterol ratio will give a proper picture of your risk to heart disease and tag you as low risk, average risk and high risk category. But the ratio alone should not be a solo method to assess yourself if you are at high risk for a heart disease. Remember though cholesterol can lead the way to heart disease, it is not only the sole way for it. THE OTHER RISK FACTORS that your doctor will include for heart disease evaluations is your history, age, family history, health risking habits-alcohol consumption and smoking -frequency and intensity and blood pressure account. With all this your doctor can predict your lifetime or your risk for heart disease –heart attack or stroke.
For cholesterol, your doctor will take in total cholesterol into account to plan you with a proper diet, exercise and medication to bring the values in the healthy range.
NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
AHA recommends all adults above the age of 20 to check for their cholesterol levels every 5 years to reduce their risk of heart diseases and stroke.