High Cholesterol
Alternate Names : Hypercholesterolemia
How is the disease diagnosed?
A blood cholesterol test is used to diagnose high cholesterol. This test measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and the triglycerides. Total cholesterol results are evaluated as follows:
desirable range is less than 200 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL
borderline-high is 200 to 239 mg/dL
high cholesterol is 240 mg/dL or greater
LDL results are evaluated differently in people with certain risk factors. People with CAD and CAD risk equivalents have the strictest LDL guidelines. CAD risk equivalents include the following factors:
diabetes
multiple risk factors that give the person a greater than 20% chance of developing CAD within 10 years
other clinical signs of atherosclerosis, such as peripheral arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, or certain types of carotid artery disease
The person's risk of developing CAD within 10 years is based on data from the Framingham heart study. This 10-year risk is calculated from a formula that takes the following into account:
age
cigarette smoking
HDL cholesterol
systolic blood pressure, which is the top number on a blood pressure reading
total cholesterol
treatment for high blood pressure
LDL results in healthy adults are evaluated as follows:
optimal is less than 100 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL
near optimal/above optimal is 100 to 129 mg/dL
borderline high is 130 to 159 mg/dL
high is 160 to 189 mg/dL
very high is 190 mg/dL or greater
If an individual has certain other risk factors, LDL guidelines are more strict. LDL goals for these groups are as follows:
less than 100 mg/dL for people with CAD and CAD risk equivalents
less than 130 mg/dL for individuals with two or more risk factors
less than 160 mg/dL for people with 0 to 1 risk factor
A low HDL level is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL. Low HDL increases a person's risk for coronary artery disease. A high HDL is 60 mg/dL or above. High HDL lowers the risk of coronary artery disease, or CAD.
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