Cholesterol:Your Cholesterol Number
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What You Need to Know
What Cholesterol Tests Reveal About Your Heart's Health
Surprise! Your total number matters a lot less than the ratios. Here's how doctors look at it
"My cholesterol tested high and the doctors told me to lose weight, but it just went over my head," says Mark Miller, 62, a teacher and football coach from Linden, Calif. Miller weighed 380 pounds five years ago, when he suffered two heart attacks just three days apart... Read More
How Cholesterol Affects Your Heart's Health
Too much is bad, and so is too little. Here's what you need to know about fats in your blood
When most people hear "cholesterol" they think "evil." Like most things in life, the reality is more complex; cholesterol can be very bad and very good. On its own, cholesterol is a crucial body component... Read More
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dr. Robert Rosenson's Myths and Facts About Cholesterol
Dr. Robert Rosenson
Cardiologist, University of Michigan
Q: Is the "total cholesterol" number my doctor talks about obsolete, or does it still have some value?
A: It has some relevance because, typically, the higher the cholesterol, the higher the bad cholesterol—but it also could be the higher the good cholesterol. And that’s why we focus on HDL and LDL cholesterol. By focusing on the total cholesterol, people can often be misled about their risk [for cardiovascular disease] being too high or too low. One can have total cholesterol of 175 and HDL cholesterol of 25 and be at incredibly high risk for a cardiovascular event. By contrast, one can have total cholesterol of 240 and HDL cholesterol of 65 and not be at increased risk. So it’s the components that comprise the total cholesterol that are important. Read More
A: It has some relevance because, typically, the higher the cholesterol, the higher the bad cholesterol—but it also could be the higher the good cholesterol. And that’s why we focus on HDL and LDL cholesterol. By focusing on the total cholesterol, people can often be misled about their risk [for cardiovascular disease] being too high or too low. One can have total cholesterol of 175 and HDL cholesterol of 25 and be at incredibly high risk for a cardiovascular event. By contrast, one can have total cholesterol of 240 and HDL cholesterol of 65 and not be at increased risk. So it’s the components that comprise the total cholesterol that are important. Read More
