1. Total Cholesterol (TC)
- What it is: Overall cholesterol in your blood
- Ideal level: Below 200 mg/dL
- ⚠️ But don’t rely only on this—it can be misleading if other values are off
❤️ 2. LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) – “Bad Cholesterol”
- Role: Builds up in arteries → increases risk of heart disease
- Ideal level: Below 100 mg/dL
- 🚨 Higher LDL = higher risk
💚 3. HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) – “Good Cholesterol”
- Role: Removes bad cholesterol from blood
- Ideal level:
- Men: Above 40 mg/dL
- Women: Above 50 mg/dL
- ✅ Higher HDL is actually good
⚡ 4. Triglycerides (TG)
- What it is: Type of fat from food (especially sugar & carbs)
- Ideal level: Below 150 mg/dL
- 🚨 High TG = risk of heart disease + can be linked to conditions like Type 2 Diabetes
📊 5. Ratios (Very Important!)
These give a better idea than single values:
- TC/HDL Ratio
- Ideal: Below 4
- LDL/HDL Ratio
- Lower is better
👉 These ratios show how balanced your cholesterol is
⚖️ 6. Non-HDL Cholesterol
- Formula: Total Cholesterol – HDL
- Ideal level: Below 130 mg/dL
- Covers all “bad” cholesterol types
🚨 Why You Shouldn’t Focus Only on Total Cholesterol
You might have:
- Normal total cholesterol
- But high LDL or triglycerides + low HDL
➡️ This still increases your risk of heart problems
📝 Simple Tip to Remember
- ❌ High LDL = Bad
- ❌ High TG = Bad
- ✅ High HDL = Good
💡 Bonus: When to Be Concerned
Consult a doctor if:
- LDL is high
- HDL is low
- TG is high
- Or ratios are abnormal
