Cholesterol & Tryglycerides
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found throughout the body that helps build cell walls. The body produces all the cholesterol it needs for normal functioning, but too much dietary cholesterol can be harmful and may put you at risk for coronary artery disease. At any given time, combinations of factors affect your blood cholesterol levels. This is why your doctor will look at several tests to arrive at an accurate picture of your cholesterol. These tests are: Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels.
HDL Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein)
HDL is considered “good” cholesterol because it removes cholesterol from the arteries and therefore helps protect you against developing coronary heart disease. Generally the higher the HDL level, the more cholesterol is removed from the blood stream and the lower the risk of heart attack.
LDL Cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein)
LDL is carried through the blood stream by protein. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) carries a low proportion of protein to cholesterol. High levels of LDL have been associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. For this reason, LDL has been called “The Bad Cholesterol.”
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TC
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HDL
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LDL
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Normal Range
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100 – 199 mg/dL
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Male: 40+ mg/dL
Female: 50+ mg/dL
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100 mg/dL or below
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May be at Risk
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200 – 239 mg/dL
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----
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101 – 159 mg/dL
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At Risk
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240 and above mg/dL
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Below Normal Range
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160 and above mg/dL
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Tryglycerides
Triglycerides are a form of fat that circulates in your bloodstream. They are found in your diet and produced by your liver. When you eat, your triglyceride (and glucose) level increases significantly but gradually; if your body processes the fat efficiently, the level of triglycerides will decrease.
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Triglycerides
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Normal Range
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35 – 150 mg/dL
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Above Normal
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Greater than 150 mg/dL
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