Learn What Those Total Cholesterol Numbers Are

It can be very confusing to understand those numbers the doctor reads off your chart when he talks about cholesterol. HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. What does it all mean?

Unless you have never been to a doctor, you probably already know about the score of 200. We want to hear that our cholesterol is lower than that. That is normal and we understand it. Over 200 is a whole different story.

Let's start with the basics. There are two kinds of cholesterol in every human. The good or HDL cholesterol and the bad or the LDL cholesterol can both be measured by very basic blood test. The averages of these findings are used for your final score. And basically, they are what makes the doctor give you either the good job pat on the back or the stern talking to about how important your health should be taken.

Okay, so here comes the basic math part, be prepared. Total Cholesterol Number (TCN) = Bad Cholesterol (LDL) + Good Cholesterol (HDL) + VLDL. Now isn't that a very simple formula?

Total cholesterol is calculated using this formulas: HDL +LDL+VLDL=Total Cholesterol.

Now you may be asking what is this VLDL number that is in the formula. VLDL is the doctor's abbreviation for the Triglyceride level in your blood. A triglyceride is a fatty acid or fat cell that is in your blood stream. VLDL is the triglyceride level in the bloodstream divided by five. Therefore, you total cholesterol number is the Good Cholesterol number + the Bad Cholesterol Number + the triglyceride level/5.

As you can see, calculating your actual total cholesterol number is not complicated or anything like math used in rocket science or astrophysics. Again, if the total cholesterol number is under 200 then great; if it's over 200, better start following your doctor's advice.

Visit the Cholesterol Scoop for more information on How to Raise Good Cholesterol Levels?.