What is the Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio?
The Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio considered a sensitive and specific index of cardiovascular risk, determining how much of your body’s total cholesterol consists of “good” and “bad” cholesterol.
Why is it measured?
Total Cholesterol:HDL is an important metric of cardiovascular health since it takes into account both types of cholesterol, rather than one or the other. For example, even if HDL is high individually, you could still be at risk for cardiovascular events if LDL is even higher. Thus, the ratio can assess your risk much more accurately.
How can I better understand my results?
- Normal: <4.5
- Optimal: <3.5