Physicians used to be concerned about the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. Now they want to know the amounts of the two main forms of cholesterol, HDL and LDL. An elevated level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol is praised. On the other hand, LDL cholesterol is called "bad" because higher levels indicate an increased risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is necessary to life. Without it we wouldn't be able to digest fat since it is a key ingredient in bile.

No. It has been shown in the recent years that total cholesterol can range up and down 30mg/dL daily - unassociated with the fasting state. The daily variation shown is not greater than the variation from a recent diet. Just as the body strives to maintain a 20:1 balance between bicarbonate and carbonic acid, the body tries to maintain electrolyte neutrality. The concentration of anions should equal the concentration of cations in the body.

When you think of cholesterol, your only thought is that it should be lower, however HDL levels are not the same. The higher the better is the necessary information when it comes to HDL cholesterol levels. HDL is not the same as cholesterol. In...

HDLs are called "good" cholesterol because at high levels, HDLs seem to protect against heart attack. Heart experts suspect HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. HDLs may even remove excess cholesterol from plaques, slowing their growth. High HDLS are good.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. At high levels, LDLs can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain. It helps form hard, thick plaque deposits--build-ups that can sometimes bulge out into the bloodstream, but that often cause no trouble for years or decades. The danger: Plaque can rupture suddenly, releasing chemicals into the blood that cause clots.

Consuming monounsaturated fats can improve your HDL as well as reduce triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL). These include olive oils and other vegetable oils, nuts and avocados. Some foods such as peanuts, green peas, sunflower seeds and corn can also raise HDL. Other important strategies to raise HDL include a regular exercise program, alcohol in moderation and the cessation of smoking. Calcium supplements have also been shown to increase HDL levels.

Check to see what the triglyceride result is. If the triglycerides are >650 mg/dL (>7.34 mmol/L) the HDL cholesterol result will not be accurate and will be reported as N/A.

There may be several reasons for an LDL cholesterol result of N/A. The LDL cholesterol is calculated as follows: LDL=(TC-HDL-TRG/5). If the triglyceride result is >400 mg/dL (>4.51 mmol/L), the calculated LDL cholesterol will not be accurate and the LDL result will be reported as N/A. If the TC, HDL or TRG results are outside the measuring range of the instrument, the LDL will also not be calculated and will be reported as N/A.

CardioChek Lipid Panel Test Strips will automatically calculate LDL values (require CardioChek PA analyzer). If using individual test chemistries with either CardioChek PA or CardioChek analyzers, first test Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides using new, unused test strips.

Answer: Check to see what the Triglyceride result is. If the Triglycerides are > 7.34 mM/L the HDL cholesterol result will not be accurate and will be reported as N/A.

Lowering your LDL cholesterol level will help keep plaque from building up in your arteries. This makes it easier for your heart to get the blood and nutrients it needs. If you already have coronary artery disease, your doctor will probably want you to lower your LDL level by at least 30 to 35% through diet, exercise and, possibly, medicines. Another way to help is to increase your HDL level.

reduce the potential risk of cholesterol even if the cholesterol level remains the same. It seems it is exercise's ability to change the size and density of cholesterol- carrying protein that results in less prescription medications to reduce LDL cholesterol. Always consult your physician to help you develop

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is an important component of all the cells in your body. Unfortunately, elevated levels of blood cholesterol can be a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. This "extra" cholesterol is synthesized in the liver and it is also part of the diet.

The VAP Test provides all the information found in a routine lipid panel, plus measurements of all known cholesterol subclasses that play important roles in the development of CAD. The additional information provided by the VAP Test improves the ability to predict heart disease risk to more than 90%. It also directly measures LDL cholesterol. In contrast, the routine cholesterol test detects only about 40% of people at risk.

quot;Good cholesterol", as HDL is known, is a very important factor in preventing heart disease. The higher the level, the better. Unfortunately, going on a low fat diet may lower your total cholesterol, but it won't raise the HDL. In fact, HDL often goes down on a low fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Mono-unsaturates like olive oil may help, as will fish oils. Losing weight and exercising regularly can also help. Medication may raise it, but often not by very much.

Often called "good cholesterol," HDL helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries.

Often called "bad cholesterol," LDL is the main source of cholesterol build-up and blockage in the arteries.

The NCEP ATP III recommends that LDL be directly measured as a new feature of the guidelines. LDL is not directly measured in today's routine lipid panels. Rather, it is calculated using the Friedewald equation: [LDL] = [total cholesterol] ? [HDL] ? [triglycerides/5]. Thus, calculated LDL is falsely low in patients with elevated triglycerides, and it does not correlate well in patients with diabetes, coronary disease, or other atherosclerotic diseases.