Mr Ontario
08-01-2008, 04:14 PM
What you need to know about your lipid profile numbers (also glucose levels).
Gly Hgb-A1C
Gly Hgb-A1C is a test of average blood sugar levels over the previous 2-3 months.
The average range roughly correlates to an average blood sugar level of 90-120.
Numbers under 7% help you avoid the many complications of diabetes and is the usual goal for diabetics.
Numbers above 8% are a red flag to change treatment in order to decrease blood sugar levels.
Fasting Glucose
Fasting Glucose is a measure of the amount of sugar in your blood after fasting for 9 hours or so.
Numbers above 120 usually indicate the presense of diabetes.
Cholesterol
Total cholesterol is calculated by adding up your HDL level, your LDL level, and one fifth your triglyceride level.
Levels less than 200 are considered normal.
Levels between 200 and 240 are considered to be borderline high.
Levels above 240 are considered to be high blood cholesterol and double your risk of heart disease over someone below 200.
As a measure of your risk of heart disease, the total cholesterol level has fallen out of favor with some, replaced by ratios of "good" cholesterol to "bad" cholesterol.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are blood fats. Heart disease and diabetes have been correlated with high triglyceride levels.
Levels less than 150 are considered normal.
Levels between 150 and 200 are considered to be borderline high.
(Some ******s list anything below 200 as being normal.)
Levels between 200 and 500 are considered to be high.
Levels above 500 are considered to be very high.
HDL
HDL is the "good" type of cholesterol. The higher this number is, the better off you are.
Levels less than 40 are considered to be low.
(Some ******s start low readings at 35.)
Levels between 40 and 60 are considered to be normal.
Levels above 60 are considered to be high HDL cholesterol. High HDL levels are thought to be a negative risk factor. In other words, high HDL can actually counteract other bad risk factors.
LDL
LDL is the "bad" type of cholesterol. The lower this number is, the better off you are.
(Some ******s claim that it's not the amount of LDL, but how small and dense the particles are.)
Levels less than 100 are considered to be normal.
(Diabetics and those with existing heart disease are strongly encouraged to keep their LDL levels below 100.)
Levels between 100 and 130 are considered to be near normal.
(Those without diabetes nor existing heart disease, but who have other risk factors are strongly encouraged to keep their LDL levels below 130.)
Levels between 130 and 160 are considered to be borderline high.
Levels between 160 and 190 are considered to be high.
Levels above 190 are considered to be very high.
Coronary Risk Ratio
Your coronary risk factor is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol by your HDL. It attempts to get a better picture of how your various cholesterol levels affect your health by taking into account the balance of "good" cholesterol to "bad" cholesterol.
Ratios of less than 5 are considered to be normal.
LDL/HDL Ratio
The LDL/HDL Ratio is calculated by dividing your LDL cholesterol by your HDL cholesterol. It also attempts to better correlate cholesterol readings to potential health. It's basically the same as the coronary risk ratio, only without taking triglycerides into account.
Ratios of less than 3.5 are considered to be normal.
Gly Hgb-A1C
Gly Hgb-A1C is a test of average blood sugar levels over the previous 2-3 months.
The average range roughly correlates to an average blood sugar level of 90-120.
Numbers under 7% help you avoid the many complications of diabetes and is the usual goal for diabetics.
Numbers above 8% are a red flag to change treatment in order to decrease blood sugar levels.
Fasting Glucose
Fasting Glucose is a measure of the amount of sugar in your blood after fasting for 9 hours or so.
Numbers above 120 usually indicate the presense of diabetes.
Cholesterol
Total cholesterol is calculated by adding up your HDL level, your LDL level, and one fifth your triglyceride level.
Levels less than 200 are considered normal.
Levels between 200 and 240 are considered to be borderline high.
Levels above 240 are considered to be high blood cholesterol and double your risk of heart disease over someone below 200.
As a measure of your risk of heart disease, the total cholesterol level has fallen out of favor with some, replaced by ratios of "good" cholesterol to "bad" cholesterol.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are blood fats. Heart disease and diabetes have been correlated with high triglyceride levels.
Levels less than 150 are considered normal.
Levels between 150 and 200 are considered to be borderline high.
(Some ******s list anything below 200 as being normal.)
Levels between 200 and 500 are considered to be high.
Levels above 500 are considered to be very high.
HDL
HDL is the "good" type of cholesterol. The higher this number is, the better off you are.
Levels less than 40 are considered to be low.
(Some ******s start low readings at 35.)
Levels between 40 and 60 are considered to be normal.
Levels above 60 are considered to be high HDL cholesterol. High HDL levels are thought to be a negative risk factor. In other words, high HDL can actually counteract other bad risk factors.
LDL
LDL is the "bad" type of cholesterol. The lower this number is, the better off you are.
(Some ******s claim that it's not the amount of LDL, but how small and dense the particles are.)
Levels less than 100 are considered to be normal.
(Diabetics and those with existing heart disease are strongly encouraged to keep their LDL levels below 100.)
Levels between 100 and 130 are considered to be near normal.
(Those without diabetes nor existing heart disease, but who have other risk factors are strongly encouraged to keep their LDL levels below 130.)
Levels between 130 and 160 are considered to be borderline high.
Levels between 160 and 190 are considered to be high.
Levels above 190 are considered to be very high.
Coronary Risk Ratio
Your coronary risk factor is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol by your HDL. It attempts to get a better picture of how your various cholesterol levels affect your health by taking into account the balance of "good" cholesterol to "bad" cholesterol.
Ratios of less than 5 are considered to be normal.
LDL/HDL Ratio
The LDL/HDL Ratio is calculated by dividing your LDL cholesterol by your HDL cholesterol. It also attempts to better correlate cholesterol readings to potential health. It's basically the same as the coronary risk ratio, only without taking triglycerides into account.
Ratios of less than 3.5 are considered to be normal.