subject: What Is Total Cholesterol Formulas? [print this page] 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.
Your body produces two types of cholesterol LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol). A blood cholesterol level test easily reveals both of these averages to your physician, and the results determine if you are leaving with a lollipop or a scolding.
Our bodies produce two types of cholesterol. LDL is the bad cholesterol and HDL is the good stuff. The blood cholesterol test reveals both of these numbers to the doctor. The results let him know if you require further treatment.
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.
The doctor does not have to use calculus to find your total cholesterol number. If that number is well below 200, your doctor may congratulate you. If it is above 200 he may start a new medication or diet. If it has increased and is moving closer to the 200 mark, he may also give you a warning. You are better off knowing the number even if it is bad. Then you can start treatment.
