Cholesterol Ratio aka Cardiac Risk Ratio

What is a Cholesterol Ratio?

What is a Cardiac Risk Ratio?

When your doctor discusses your cholesterol level, in most cases you are provided with your total blood cholesterol level, as well as your LDL (bad), HDL (good) and triglyceride counts. For a clearer picture of your cardiovascular health, you should calculate, and discuss your cholesterol ratio with your doctor.

As common medical practices suggests, the blood diagnostic tests take into account four factors to that add up to your totally blood cholesterol, namely, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, Lp(a) Cholesterol, and triglycerides.

The cholesterol ratio, also referred to as cardiac risk ratio, is sometimes defined as the total blood cholesterol level divided by the HDL cholesterol level. Further, some researchers and doctors consider the cholesterol ratio to be more precise if additionally, the LDL cholesterol levels are divided by the HDL levels.

The American Heart Association (AHA) regards 3:5:1 the optimal ratio for total blood cholesterol to HDL good cholesterol is 3:1; and it is recommended to keep the HDL to LDL levels lower than 5:1. If the ratio is greater than 7:1, it is assumed as a warning for heightened risk for cardiovascular disease.