A cholesterol test is sure to prove very useful because its results will indicate the presence or absence of potential cholesterol problems. The most common test performed is a lipoprotein profile. The presence of bad cholesterol means that plaque builds up inside the arteries and causes blockage in free flow of blood thereby leading to heart attacks, strokes and certain heart diseases.

For those who have attained the age of twenty, chances are that the doctor has already taken a cholesterol reading while giving them a physical examination. It is important that you understand the meaning of the cholesterol numbers so that you can take appropriate steps to remedy problems arising from high LDL cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol tests will reveal certain cholesterol numbers that indicate the levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and even triglycerides and the total of each of these constituents. To be sure, the bad type of cholesterol is known as LDL cholesterol while the density refers to the ratio between protein and fatty cholesterol.

Below One Hundred is OK

Thus, LDL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol refers to cholesterol where ratio of protein is low while cholesterol contains excess of fat, and the opposite is true of HDL or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Thus, typically cholesterol numbers that indicate a LDL cholesterol level below hundred means there is nothing to be worried about. Even if the LDL cholesterol numbers stay below one hundred and thirty, you will be OK with regards to LDL cholesterol.

However, cholesterol numbers in the range of one hundred thirty and above (for LDL cholesterol) means that you need to take remedial action. If your HDL cholesterol numbers are more than sixty, you will also be OK since a high HDL cholesterol numbers is good for you.

A reading of under forty (for men) and under fifty (for women) is bad for you and it would mean that you need to get your HDL cholesterol levels back up to the sixty mark. In any case, the total of both cholesterol numbers should be around the two hundred mark, the desired level.

When you meet with your doctor to discuss your cholesterol you should also have your cholesterol numbers ready because he will need to know these numbers before he can suggest remedies. In fact, it would even help if you were able to find out cholesterol numbers for your other family members since these numbers can also help your doctor get a better idea about possible family history problems and know how to deal with your case from a wider perspective.