Making Sense of Your Cholesterol Tests

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By Donna Shields, R.D.

Learn the lingo of cholesterol results with these simple explanations.

So you’ve had a blood test. When your doctor reviews your cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride values, do your eyes glaze over as you struggle to remember what’s good and bad? This quick rundown will help you put your results in perspective.

The Gist of It
Blood lipid (fat) levels are one piece of the puzzle used for assessing coronary heart disease risk. Other risk factors, such as your weight and whether or not you smoke, have high blood pressure, and/or a family history of heart disease, will determine how often blood lipids should be checked as well as the diet and exercise plan you need to follow.

Fats, especially cholesterol, are not water-soluble so they must hitch a ride to something else, such as protein, to move through the bloodstream. Hence, they’re called “lipoproteins.” There are the most common terms you’ll hear:

• HDL (high-density lipoprotein) retrieves cholesterol from cells and returns it to the liver to be metabolized. HDL is considered the good kind of cholesterol. Here’s a little trick to help you remember: HDL is good—happy—and should be high (H=happy, high).
• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) transports cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to be used in various body cells. LDL is considered the bad type of cholesterol. Remember: LDL is lethal and should be low (L=lethal, low).
• TG (Triglycerides) are the primary storage form of fats in the body. Elevated TG levels are undesirable.