Know Your Numbers: A Plain-English Guide to LDL, HDL and Triglycerides

A lipid panel is a blood test that measures several types of fats in your blood. The CDC cholesterol page explains the basics.

These are commonly used US reference ranges in mg/dL. Your clinician looks at your numbers together with your age, blood pressure, diabetes status, and other risks, so your personal goals may differ.

The longer the bar, the higher the LDL range and the greater the concern. This is an illustration of the ranges, not a measure of your personal risk.

High cholesterol is called a silent condition because most people feel completely normal. Symptoms usually appear only after the damage has built up, such as chest pain from narrowed heart arteries. That is why screening is so important.

Questions worth asking at your next visit:

• When was my last cholesterol test?
• How often should I be tested, given my age and family history?
• Are my numbers fine, or should we repeat them?
• Do I have other risks, like blood pressure or blood sugar, that change my goals?

Adults who are otherwise healthy are generally advised to be checked every few years, and more often if they have risk factors. Our annual physical checkup guide and common blood tests guide explain what to expect.

Small, steady changes add up. Try to build these habits one at a time:

1. Cut back on saturated fat found in fatty red meat, butter, full-fat dairy, and many fried or processed foods.
2. Avoid trans fats. Check labels for partially hydrogenated oils.
3. Eat more soluble fiber from oats, beans, lentils, apples, and citrus fruit.
4. Choose healthier fats such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like salmon.
5. Move your body. Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, such as brisk walking.
6. Reach and keep a healthy weight; even a modest loss can improve numbers.
7. Quit smoking. It helps HDL levels and lowers overall heart risk.
8. Limit alcohol, since too much raises triglycerides.
9. Take prescribed medicines every day as directed and keep follow-up appointments.

Lifestyle changes come first for many people, but medicines may be recommended if your numbers or overall heart risk stay high. The most common are statins, which lower LDL. Others exist if statins are not suitable. Never stop or change a cholesterol medicine on your own; ask your clinician about side effects and alternatives. You can read more on the MedlinePlus cholesterol page.

Make an appointment soon if:

• You have never had your cholesterol checked and are over 20
• Your last results were borderline or high
• Heart disease or very high cholesterol runs in your family
• You have diabetes, high blood pressure, or smoke

Call 911 for chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back, sudden shortness of breath, or signs of stroke such as face drooping, arm weakness, or slurred speech. These can be signs of a heart attack or stroke and need emergency care.

More from City Prime Care: our guides on sleep and your health, dehydration and when to choose urgent care over waiting for your doctor pair well with this one.

Trusted outside sources: CDC: About Cholesterol, MedlinePlus: Cholesterol and NHLBI: Blood Cholesterol.

You cannot feel high cholesterol, but you can measure it and improve it. A simple blood test, a few lifestyle changes, and medicine when needed can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke significantly.

Contact Us

Want to check your cholesterol or review your results? Our Queens, NY team can help you with testing and next steps. Contact City Prime Care here. This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your own healthcare provider.