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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > High Cholesterol: Diagnosis & Tests
      Category : Health Centers > Cholesterol

High Cholesterol

Alternate Names : Hypercholesterolemia

High Cholesterol | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring

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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    High Cholesterol: Symptoms & Signs

     

    High Cholesterol: Prevention & Expectations

    Author: William M. Boggs, MD
    Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 05/23/01



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