What Does Non Hdl Cholesterol Mean

What Does Ldl Cholesterol Do

Cholesterol Blood Test – What does it mean? (lipids, HDL, LDL, Non-HDL )

LDL is considered the bad cholesterol. It carries cholesterol to your arteries, where it may collect in the vessel walls and contribute to plaque formation, known as atherosclerosis. This can lead to decreased blood flow to the heart muscle , leg muscles , or abrupt closure of an artery in the heart or brain, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Over a third of the US population has high LDL cholesterol. Diagnosis is made via blood testing, so if you dont check, you wont know.

For LDL, the lower the number the better. A good goal to keep in mind is less than 130 mg/dL if you dont have atherosclerotic disease or diabetes. It should be no more than 100 mg/dL, or even 70mg/dL, if you have any of those conditions or high total cholesterol. Its very important to set your own target cholesterol levels with your doctor. Obesity, a large waist circumference, a sedentary lifestyle, or a diet rich in red meat, full-fat dairy, saturated fat, trans fats, and processed foods can lead to high LDL cholesterol.

What Do Your Cholesterol Results Mean

When you have a cholesterol test, it is really important that your healthcare professional explains the results to you to prevent unnecessary worry and confusion.;

Its not just your total cholesterol thats important and your results will include;different types of cholesterol. If you are only given your total cholesterol, ask for a break-down of the other numbers. Its possible to have a healthy total cholesterol number but an unhealthy balance of the different types of cholesterol.;

As a minimum, you should be given your total cholesterol and;HDL numbers, then you can work out your;ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol .;

You might also have your triglycerides tested, these are another type of blood fat which are linked to heart disease.;

Ask for a print out of your results if you are not able to speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist.;

Your results should include:;

Total cholesterol

This is sometimes written;as ‘serum cholesterol’ or ‘TC’ and refers to your overall level of;cholesterol.;

Non-HDL cholesterol

Your non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your;HDL cholesterol. Its all the ‘bad’ cholesterol added together, including your;LDL;cholesterol. Ideally it should be as low as possible.

HDL cholesterol

TC:HDL;ratio

You might be given a TC:HDL ratio, which is the ratio of;HDL;compared to the total cholesterol. If not, you can work it out from your HDL and total cholesterol numbers. This should be as low as possible. Above 6 is considered high.

How Can You Lower Your Non

You get all the cholesterol you need from your liver. You also get some from foods like meat, poultry, dairy products, and saturated oils used in baked goods. These foods also prompt your liver to make more cholesterol.

To reduce your overall cholesterol levels, limit your intake of saturated fats. That means going light on fatty meat and full-fat dairy products.

Its also important to avoid trans fats, which you may find listed as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in:

baked goods like store-bought cookies, cakes, pastries, and frozen pies
snack foods like crackers, microwaveable popcorn, frozen pizza crusts, and meat pies
fried fast foods like fried chicken, french fries, fried noodles, and battered fish
vegetable shortening which is often used in baked goods as a cheap alternative to butter
stick margarine which is made from hydrogenated vegetable oils
non-dairy coffee creamers used as a substitute for milk and cream in coffee, tea, and other hot beverages

Instead of eating processed foods, try to focus on eating more whole foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and healthy sources of protein, like fish, skinless chicken, and lean red meat.

Some foods that may help improve LDL cholesterol include:

oatmeal and oat bran

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What Does It Mean If Your Non

– Reduction in total calories, especially saturated and trans fatty acids, in combination with exercise is recommended.

– Reducing sugar and carbohydrate consumption is often very effective in lowering triglycerides and non-HDL-C, particularly in patients with abdominal obesity or the metabolic syndrome.

– Moderate physical activity can help raise HDL-C and lower non-HDL-C.

– Quitting smoking will improve your HDL-C and reduce non-HDL-C. Several studies have shown that male and female smokers have significantly lower HDL-C levels than non-smokers.

– Medical therapy. This would include the use of a statin drug to serve as the foundation for LDL-C lowering followed by a second treatment to bring non-HDL-C to within the target range.;

Can You Get Rid Of Cholesterol Deposits

Researchers are working on ways to eliminate plaque from coronary arteries. One method that has been proposed involves using combinations of medicines in healthy people aged 25 to 55 years. It is suggested that getting the levels of cholesterol down very low will allow arteries to clear up and heal up.

Several researchers believe that the way to reverse heart disease, and to prevent it in the first place, is found in a whole food, plant-based diet. Studies have been done that have shown that limiting nutrition to whole foods that are plant-based have been successful in reducing blood cholesterol and even, in some cases, lessening plaque buildup.

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The Standard Lipid Profile

Screening patients for the risk of heart disease involves the measurement of blood lipids. Usually, this is accomplished by obtaining a lipid profile.

A standard lipid profile measures total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is estimated by calculation using a specifically designed formula called the Friedewald equation.

It is crucial to understand that these numbers dont reflect the number of lipoprotein particles. They only tell us how much lipid mass is carried by the different types of lipoproteins.

For historical reasons, LDL cholesterol has become a primary goal for the prevention of heart disease. Hence, recommendations regarding diet and drug therapy are usually aimed at lowering LDL cholesterol .

However, LDL is not the only lipoprotein involved in atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Furthermore, using LDL cholesterol to assess risk has several pitfalls .

Therefore, there is a need for a lipid parameter that better reflects the amount of cholesterol within all atherogenic particles. This is of particular importance when triglyceride levels are high, which is quite common, for example among people with abdominal obesity or metabolic syndrome.

What Is Being Tested

Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the total amount of cholesterol contained in lipoproteins other than;high-density lipoprotein . HDL is a particle that contains cholesterol, which is called HDL cholesterol or HDL-C. Non-HDL-C is calculated from the results of a;lipid profile;by subtracting the HDL-C result from the;total cholesterol.

Lipoproteins are responsible for the transport and

Lipoproteins are responsible for the transport and metabolism of cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the liver to other tissues, including blood vessel walls. Therefore, high;LDL cholesterol ;is considered to be associated with the development of hardening of the arteries and;cardiovascular disease . High density lipoproteins have an inverse function they transport cholesterol from the blood vessels to the liver, thus providing protection against CVD.

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Why High Cholesterol Matters

High cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, leading causes of death in the U.S. High levels of LDL cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup on the walls of the arteries, narrowing the arteries and restricting blood flow. If some of this plaque breaks off and gets stuck in a narrowed artery, it can block the artery and cut off blood supply to the heart or brain, resulting in heart attack or stroke.

Why Is It Important

Non HDL Cholesterol

The importance of the analysis of non-HDL-C as a predictor and target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease is that other highly atherogenic lipoproteins are included as the remnants of VLDL, which, being small and dense molecules. The potential use of non-HDL cholesterol to predict the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated by different studies, however, there are few studies where it has been evaluated as a predictor of the risk of cardiovascular disease development. On the other hand, Non-HDL cholesterol has been shown to be a predictor of mortality in men and women, as good as LDL cholesterol.

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Why Do I Need A Cholesterol Test

You will get a free NHS cholesterol test if you have a number of risk factors for high cholesterol including if youre over 40, have coronary heart disease or diabetes, have had a stroke or mini stroke, or have a family history of cardiovascular disease or a cholesterol-related condition.

Understanding your cholesterol levels

We hear a lot about the dangers of high cholesterol, but unless you have a blood test, you have …

Looking For Reference Ranges

You may be able to find your test results on your laboratorys website or patient portal. However, you are currently at Lab Tests Online. You may have been directed here by your labs website in order to provide you with background information about the test you had performed.;You will need to return to your labs website or portal, or contact your healthcare practitioner;in order to obtain;your test results.

Lab Tests Online is an award-winning patient education website offering information on laboratory tests. The content on the site, which has been reviewed by laboratory scientists and other medical professionals, provides general explanations of what results might mean for each test listed on the site, such as what a high or low value might suggest to your healthcare practitioner about your health or medical condition.

The reference ranges for your tests can be found on your laboratory report. They are typically found to the right of your results.

If you do not have your lab report, consult your healthcare provider or the laboratory that performed the test to obtain the reference range.

For more information, please read the article;Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

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Are Home Cholesterol Testing Kits Accurate

The answer is yes if the tests are labeled CDC-certified. This means that the contents have been approved by the Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network, a group that works with test makers, laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make sure tests are accurate.

For home tests, you will still need to fast for 12 hours and to obtain blood for testing. Some kits come with packages for mailing to a lab for results. Other kits have a monitor so you can get the results at home. The cost of such home kits vary.

What Are The Types Of Cholesterol

Cholesterol moves throughout the body carried by lipoproteins in the blood. These lipoproteins include:

Low-density lipoprotein is one of the two main lipoproteins. LDL is often called the bad cholesterol.
High-density lipoprotein is the other main lipoprotein. HDL is often called the good cholesterol.
Very-low-density lipoproteins are particles in the blood that carry triglycerides.

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What Do Your Triglyceride Results Mean

Triglycerides are another type of blood fat and your triglyceride levels can tell you more about your health. If your triglycerides are high, it can mean youre at risk of heart disease, liver disease and diabetes.;

You might have your triglycerides tested when you have a cholesterol test.;

People with high triglyceride levels often have a low HDL level as well, which is an unhealthy combination.

What Are Normal Levels Of Cholesterol

Normal levels of cholesterol are different depending on your age and sex. These guidelines show desirable total, non-HDL,LDL and HDL levels by age and sex.

Table 1: Target cholesterol levels by age and sex

Age and sex

cholesterol

People aged 19 years and younger Men aged 20 years and olderWomen aged 20 years and older

The table above spells out the numbers for normal cholesterol levels. The table below shows you cholesterol levels that are higher than normal. High cholesterol numbers vary by age group and sex, and may be different for those who have heart disease. These guidelines represent high cholesterol numbers for those who do not have heart disease.

Table 2: High total, non-HDL and LDL cholesterol levels by age and sex

Age and sex
People aged 19 years and younger

Borderline: 170-199 mg/dL

High: Greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL

Borderline: 120-144 mg/dL

High: Greater than or equal to 145 mg/dL

Borderline: 110-129 mg/dL

High: Greater than or equal to 130 mg/dL

High: Greater than or equal to 239 mg/dL

Near optimal or above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL

Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL

Very high: Greater than 189 mg/dL

High: Greater than or equal to 239 mg/dL

Near optimal or above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL

Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL

Very high: Greater than 189 mg/dL

LDL cholesterol levels

If you do not have heart disease or blood vessel disease, and you are not at high risk for developing heart disease, the optimal number is less than 100 mg/dL.

Triglycerides

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What Makes Hdl Cholesterol So Good

HDL is short for high-density lipoprotein. Each bit of HDL cholesterol is a microscopic blob that consists of a rim of lipoprotein surrounding a cholesterol center. The HDL cholesterol particle is dense compared to other types of cholesterol particles, so it’s called high-density.

Cholesterol isn’t all bad. In fact, cholesterol is an essential fat. It provides stability in every cell of your body.

To travel through the bloodstream, cholesterol has to be transported by helper molecules called lipoproteins. Each lipoprotein has its own preferences for cholesterol, and each acts differently with the cholesterol it carries.

Experts believe HDL cholesterol may act in a variety of helpful ways that tend to reduce the risk for heart disease:

HDL cholesterol scavenges and removes LDL — or “bad” — cholesterol.
HDL reduces, reuses, and recycles LDL cholesterol by transporting it to the liver where it can be reprocessed.
HDL cholesterol acts as a maintenance crew for the inner walls of blood vessels. Damage to the inner walls is the first step in the process of atherosclerosis, which causes heart attacks and strokes. HDL scrubs the wall clean and keeps it healthy

How Do You Prepare For A Cholesterol Test

What Does My Non HDL Score Mean

In most cases, youll need to fast for nine to 12 hours before the test. Make sure you tell the person drawing your blood how long it has been since you ate or drank anything that wasnt water.

There are some cases when a cholesterol test is done without fasting. This is true for tests done at health screenings and may be true for people younger than 20 or for people who are unable to fast.

Some medical societies believe that fasting is not necessary to get a true picture of lipid levels in the blood, while other associations stand by the belief that fasting gives a better idea of a persons heart disease risk. You should be clear on whether or not you need to fast, and for how long, before you go for the blood test.

How Often Should I Get A Cholesterol Test

When and how often you should get a cholesterol test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:

For people who are age 19 or younger:

The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
Children should have the test again every 5 years
Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke

For people who are age 20 or older:

Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years

Is Any Test Preparation Needed To Ensure The Quality Of The Sample

For a fasting;lipid profile, which may include a results for non-HDL-C, fasting for 9-12 hours before having the blood sample drawn is typically required; only water is permitted. However, some laboratories offer non-fasting lipid profiles. In particular, children and teens may have testing done without fasting. Follow any instructions you are given and be sure to tell the person drawing your blood whether or not you have fasted.

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When Should You Contact Your Healthcare Provider About Your Cholesterol Levels

In truth, your healthcare provider will probably talk to you about your numbers first. As always, contact your provider if you have any new or worsening pain or other uncomfortable feelings. Make sure you know what medications you take and what they are expected to do. Call the provider if you have a reaction to the medicine.

Before you go to the office, and after you have had a cholesterol test, it helps to have a list of questions prepared about your test results and any proposed treatment.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

When considering cholesterol numbers, its important to remember that you really have the ability to make those numbers go in your favor. What you choose to eat, how much you are able to move and how you deal with lifes ups and downs are things that you can influence.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/31/2020.

References

Cholesterol Levels For Men And Women

HDL levels differ for men and women

Women naturally have higher HDL cholesterol levels than men due to differences in the genes. Women should aim for an HDL cholesterol level above 1.2mmol/L while men should aim for above 1mmol/L.

Cholesterol levels can rise during pregnancy

During pregnancy, both cholesterol and triglyceride levels can significantly rise. We don’t recommend getting a cholesterol test during pregnancy because your results won’t be accurate. Our advice is to wait until at least 6-8 weeks after your baby is born or after you stop breastfeeding to get a cholesterol test. This means you don’t need to worry unnecessarily. Find out more about pregnancy and blood fats.;

Cholesterol levels rise during the menopause

Women may also find their cholesterol levels rise during the menopause.;

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