Understanding Your Total-Cholesterol-to-HDL Ratio

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1 Understanding Yur Ttal-Chlesterl-t-HDL Rati Yur ttal-chlesterl-t-hdl rati is measured during a bld test called a lipid prfile. This wrksheet will help yu learn mre abut this rati. It will als help yu: See what yu can d t imprve yur numbers if they are nt nrmal Talk with yur dctr abut yur chlesterl levels Keep track f yur test results What Is a Lipid Prfile (Bld Chlesterl Test)? Yur dctr uses a set f tests t lk at the level f several fats (als called lipids) in yur bld. This set f tests may be called a: Chlesterl panel Lipid panel Lipid prfile Yur prfile can help yu find ut if yu are at risk fr heart disease r strke. If yur lipids are nt nrmal, then yu will likely need t take steps t get them t healthy levels. The lipid panel measures several lipid levels in yur bld. These usually include: LDL chlesterl (lw-density lipprtein) HDL chlesterl (high-density lipprtein) Ttal chlesterl Yur lipid panel may als include: Ttal-chlesterl-t-HDL rati Nn-HDL chlesterl These lipids affect the bdy in different ways. Lking at them separately gives yu and yur dctr a gd idea f: 2017 American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 1

2 Hw bld lipids are affecting yur bdy The specific health risks based n yur levels and health status Ways t lwer yur risks by cntrlling yur lipid levels What Is the Ttal-Chlesterl-t-HDL Rati? The ttal-chlesterl-t-hdl rati test result is nt actually a rati. It is a number. It is fund by dividing yur ttal chlesterl number by yur HDL number. Fr example 200 / 35 = 5.7. This number can help yur dctr better understand yur risk fr heart attack r strke. A healthy ttal-chlesterl-t-hdl rati is less than 3.5. Yu can talk with yur dctr t learn what a healthy number is fr yu. Yur Plan fr Healthy Chlesterl Levels The key thing t knw abut chlesterl is that yu can imprve yur levels if they are nt nrmal. In mst cases, yu can d this by making healthy changes. Talk with yur dctr abut changes yu can make. Yu and yur dctr can cme up with a plan that s right fr yu. Sme f the changes that might be part f yur plan include: Dn t smke. If yu smke, quit. Quitting smking can reduce yur chlesterl levels. Exercise. Exercise can help raise HDL levels. It can als lwer LDL levels, which cntribute t yur ttal chlesterl. Wrk up t getting 150 minutes f mderate-intensity aerbic activity a week. Keep in mind it s best t start slwly. If yu haven t been active in a while, start with just 10 minutes f activity mst days f the week. Build frm there. When yu are ready, yu can build up t mre. Starting slwly can make it easier t change yur habits. It can als keep yu safe. Be sure t talk with yur dctr befre yu change hw active yu are American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 2

3 Eating whle, healthy fds. Eating certain fds and aviding thers may help yur chlesterl levels. The fiber in fruits, vegetables, and whle grains can help pull chlesterl ut f yur system. Cut back n fds with saturated fats. Avid fds with trans fats. These include many prcessed fds and fast fd. Instead, chse fds that are rich in heart-healthy nutrients. These may include fds that are gd surces f fiber, healthy fats, and lean prteins. Sme examples are: Fresh fruits and vegetables Fish such as salmn, tuna, and halibut Olives, live il, and avcads Nuts and seeds Whle grains, such as atmeal Maintaining a healthy weight. If yu are verweight, lsing even a small percentage f yur weight can bst yur health and help yur chlesterl levels. Excess weight is a majr risk factr fr heart disease. The risk is highest fr thse with t much fat arund their waist. Peple with excess belly fat can have mre fat arund their liver, t. The liver is the primary rgan that wrks t rid yur bdy f excess chlesterl. But a fatty liver can t wrk as efficiently. Yu and yur dctr can talk abut what yur weight gal shuld be and hw this can bst yur verall health. Yu can als talk abut the steps yu will take t wrk tward yur gal. Taking medicine. Fr sme peple, getting regular exercise, eating healthy fds, and maintaining a healthy weight may nt be enugh t manage their chlesterl. Sme peple may als need t take medicine. Yur dctr may talk with yu abut taking medicine t help manage yur chlesterl levels. With a few changes, yu can help shift yur chlesterl levels int the healthy range. These changes can help yu imprve yur health and lwer yur risk fr heart disease and ther health cnditins. Making even small changes may help yu mve yur numbers t a mre healthy level. Will yu make changes t what yu eat? Add mre activity t yur day? Mst f the steps yu can take are nt big changes. They are small habits that yu can wrk n changing ver time American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 3

4 Talking Abut Yur Chlesterl With Yur Dctr Take this wrksheet with yu when yu visit yur dctr. Yu can write yur test results n this sheet, as well as what yu and yur dctr discuss. If yu have a reprt frm a bimetric screening, be sure t take that with yu as well. Questins t Ask Yur Dctr What des my ttal-chlesterl-t-hdl rati tell me? What is a healthy ttal-chlesterl-t-hdl rati fr me? And why? Shuld I have this set f tests again? If s, when? D I need additinal tests? What changes can I make t help imprve my rati, my ttal chlesterl, my HDL, and my verall health? What kind f treatment d I need, if any? 2017 American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 4

5 My Actin Plan I have talked with my dctr abut taking these steps t imprve my chlesterl: My Lipid Prfile Recrd Use these charts t recrd yur test results and keep track f yur numbers ver time. Yur lipid panel may nt have all f the measurements listed in this chart. Write dwn any measurements yu knw. Then talk with yur dctr abut whether yu need additinal measurements. Lipid panel results: Date f test Lcatin f test LDL mg/dl Ttal-Chlesterl-t- HDL mg/dl HDL Rati Ttal Chlesterl mg/dl Nn-HDL Chlesterl mg/dl mg/dl Lipid panel results: Date f test Lcatin f test LDL mg/dl Ttal-Chlesterl-t- HDL mg/dl HDL Rati Ttal Chlesterl mg/dl Nn-HDL Chlesterl mg/dl mg/dl Lipid panel results: 2017 American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 5

6 Date f test Lcatin f test LDL mg/dl Ttal-Chlesterl-t- HDL mg/dl HDL Rati Ttal Chlesterl mg/dl Nn-HDL Chlesterl mg/dl mg/dl This infrmatin is nt intended t take the place f regular medical care r advice. Please check with yur dctr befre using this infrmatin r beginning any self-care prgram American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 6

7 Credits Primary Authr: Sharn Odegaard Last Clinical Reviewer: Leilani Fraley, RN Last Review and Apprval: Leilani Fraley, RN, 04/19/2017 References American Heart Assciatin. (2017). What yur chlesterl levels mean. Retrieved frm -Yur-Chlesterl-Levels-Mean_UCM_305562_Article.jsp#.WOvlC_nyttQ Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Lipid bld tests. Retrieved frm May Clinic. (2016). Chlesterl test. Retrieved frm May Clinic. (2016). High chlesterl. Retrieved frm Stne, N. J., Rbinsn, J. G., Lichtenstein, A. H., Bairey Merz, C. N., Blum, C. B., Eckel, R. H.,... Wilsn, P. W. F. (2014) ACC/AHA guideline n the treatment f bld chlesterl t reduce athersclertic cardivascular risk in adults: A reprt f the American Cllege f Cardilgy/American Heart Assciatin Task Frce n Practice Guidelines. Circulatin, 129(25 suppl 2), S1-S45. di: /01.cir a 2017 American Specialty Health Incrprated (ASH). All rights reserved. 7