LDL/HDL Cholesterol Ratio
Another
cholesterol ratio that certain labs determine is the
LDL to
HDL ratio. This cholesterol ratio is also sometimes used to help predict the chances of developing
heart disease. It looks at the ratio between
bad cholesterol (LDL) to
good cholesterol (HDL). For the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, the goal is to keep it below 3.5:1, with the ideal being under 2.5:1.
However, similar to the total/HDL cholesterol ratio, the medical community is divided on whether the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio is better than total cholesterol or LDL
cholesterol levels in predicting a person's risk for
heart disease. For treatment of
high cholesterol, using the absolute numbers for LDL and HDL is recommended.
HDL/LDL Cholesterol Ratio
The HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio looks at the ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) to bad cholesterol (LDL). For the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio, the goal is to keep this ratio above .3, with the ideal HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio being above .4.
Cholesterol Ratio: Summary
There are several cholesterol ratios that a person may receive with his or her
cholesterol test results. However, in most cases, your healthcare provider will not use these ratios to determine if you have "healthy cholesterol." Instead, he or she will look at your LDL and HDL along with your other
heart disease risk factors.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print