Triglycerides

[venkat20]

My total cholestrol :163 mg/dl

H D L : 32

L D L : 92

V L D L : 37

Triglycerides :185

T.chol/HDL ratio :4.7

TG/HDL :5.4

I am 52 years.what about my triglycerides count.iam not using any medicine.Please advise........

[sandybrown]

Life style change, food intake control and regular exercise can help to reduce cholesterol numbers.

Understanding,Cholesterol numbers units are very important.

Interpreting your cholesterol numbers:

Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood in the United States and some other countries. Canada and most European countries measure cholesterol in millimoles (mmol) per liter (L) of blood. Consider these general guidelines when you get your cholesterol test (lipid panel or lipid profile) results to see if your cholesterol falls in an ideal range.

Total cholesterol

(U.S. and some other countries)

Total cholesterol*

(Canada and most of Europe)

Below 200 mg/dL Below 5.2 mmol/L Desirable

200-239 mg/dL 5.2-6.2 mmol/L Borderline high

240 mg/dL and above Above 6.2 mmol/L High

LDL cholesterol

(U.S. and some other countries)

LDL cholesterol*

(Canada and most of Europe)

Below 70 mg/dL Below 1.8 mmol/L Ideal for people at very high risk of heart disease

Below 100 mg/dL Below 2.6 mmol/L Ideal for people at risk of heart disease

100-129 mg/dL 2.6-3.3 mmol/L Near ideal

130-159 mg/dL 3.4-4.1 mmol/L Borderline high

160-189 mg/dL 4.1-4.9 mmol/L High

190 mg/dL and above Above 4.9 mmol/L Very high

HDL cholesterol

(U.S. and some other countries)

HDL cholesterol*

(Canada and most of Europe)

Below 40 mg/dL (men)

Below 50 mg/dL (women) Below 1 mmol/L (men)

Below 1.3 mmol/L (women) Poor

40-49 mg/dL (men)

50-59 mg/dL (women) 1-1.3 mmol/L (men)

1.3-1.5 mmol/L (women) Better

60 mg/dL and above 1.6 mmol/L and above Best

Triglycerides

(U.S. and some other countries)

Triglycerides*

(Canada and most of Europe)

Below 150 mg/dL Below 1.7 mmol/L Desirable

150-199 mg/dL 1.7-2.2 mmol/L Borderline high

200-499 mg/dL 2.3-5.6 mmol/L High

500 mg/dL and above Above 5.6 mmol/L and above Very high

*Canadian and European guidelines differ slightly from U.S. guidelines. These conversions are based on U.S. guidelines.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that a triglyceride level of 100 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) or lower is considered optimal. The AHA says this optimal level would improve your heart health. However, the AHA doesn't recommend drug treatment to reach this level. Instead, for those trying to lower their triglycerides to this level, lifestyle changes such as diet, weight loss and physical activity are encouraged. Elevated triglycerides usually respond well to dietary and lifestyle changes.

LDL targets differ

Because LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, it's the main focus of cholesterol-lowering treatment. Your target LDL number can vary, depending on your underlying risk of heart disease.

Most people should aim for an LDL level below 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L). If you have other risk factors for heart disease, your target LDL may be below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). If you're at very high risk of heart disease, you may need to aim for an LDL level below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L). In general, the lower your LDL cholesterol level is, the better. There is no evidence that really low LDL cholesterol levels are harmful.

You're considered to be at a high risk of heart disease if you have or have had any of the following:

•A previous heart attack or stroke

•Artery blockages in your neck (carotid artery disease)

•Artery blockages in your arms or legs (peripheral artery disease)

•Diabetes

In addition, two or more of the following risk factors also might place you in the very high risk group:

•Smoking

•High blood pressure

•Low HDL cholesterol

•Family history of early heart disease

•Age older than 45 if you're a man, or older than 55 if you're a woman

•Elevated lipoprotein (a), another type of fat (lipid) in your blood

Types of cholesterol

LDL cholesterol can build up on the inside of artery walls, contributing to artery blockages that can lead to heart attacks. Higher LDL cholesterol levels mean higher risk. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because it helps prevent arteries from becoming clogged. Higher HDL cholesterol levels generally mean lower risk.

A blood test to check cholesterol levels — called a lipid panel or lipid profile — typically reports:

•Total cholesterol

•HDL cholesterol

•LDL cholesterol

•Triglycerides, a type of fat often increased by sweets and alcohol

For the most accurate measurements, don't eat or drink anything (other than water) for nine to 12 hours before the blood sample is taken.