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February 10, 2012
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Lifestyle Cholesterol Management (cont.)

Medical Author:
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Where to Get Cholesterol Tested

Measuring your cholesterol involves taking a sample of blood. Often your health care practitioner will recommend and arrange these tests during an office visit, although it is best to have the blood drawn after fasting for 14-16 hours.

Cholesterol screening opportunities are often available in the community such as:

  • screenings held in shopping centers;

  • community health fairs;

  • neighborhood medical clinics;

  • home testing devices; and

  • work site testing.

What the Numbers Mean

Making Sense of Your Cholesterol Count*
Type of Fat Bad Better Desirable
Total Blood Cholesterol 240 mg/dL** and above needs evaluation of HDL and LDL levels 200-239 is borderline high 200 and less; 150 is ideal
HDL 40 mg/dL or less 45 for men; 55 for women 60 or more
LDL 190 mg/dL or more considered very high; 160-189 considered high 130-159 is borderline high 100-129 is nearly the best; under 100 is ideal
Triglycerides 500 mg/dL or more is very high; 200-499 is considered high 150-199 is borderline high Under 150 is normal


*From the revised guidelines ATP III, National Institutes of Health
**mg/dL means milligrams per deciliter of blood

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Cholesterol Management - Diet

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

How do you manage your cholesterol through your diet?

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Cholesterol Management

Tips to keep it under control.




Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

High HDL Cholesterol (Hyperalphalipoproteinemia) »

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is positively associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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