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In order to find the ratio between total cholesterol values and that of HDL cholesterol just divide the total cholesterol value by the HDL value. A ratio between 4 and 5 means that cholesterol is not a risk factor for coronary heart disease (heart attack).
Here are a few examples:
Tot. Chol. 280 HDL Chol. 60
Ratio 280:60 = 4,65
Cholesterol level is not a risk.
Tot. Chol. 197 ; HDL Chol. 21
Ratio 197:21 = 9,38
Cholesterol level is very high. Immediate measures must be taken even though total cholesterol seems normal. This is typical of people who have bad eating habits and do not exercise.
Tot. Chol. 330 HDL Chol. 70
Ratio 330:70 = 4,71
Cholesterol value is perfect. When total cholesterol is above 320, however, it is wise to measure the level of triglycerides and other fats in the blood in order to keep an eye on all of the fats in circulation.
Anti-cholesterol drugs are doubtlessly very effective, but they should only be used, under medical prescription, by a very small percentage of the population, i.e. by those individuals whose values are really high and who cannot bring them back to normal through diet or other appropriate behavior. Most of all, they should take the drugs only if other well-defined risk factors are present.
In practical terms, anti-cholesterol drugs are only useful to those people who belong to high coronary heart disease risk groups, which means people who have already had a heart attack or who have hard to control diabetes or severe hypertension or are obese or are smokers. Researchers like Ornish, at any rate, documented that even these people can cut cholesterol levels down to normal and improve their general well-being by being patient and paying attention to their own diets.
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