I would agree with Ribs in his post regarding the issue of HDL vs. LDL and risk ratio etc. My father passed at a very early age (45) from his first heart attack and all of my uncles (my mother’s brothers) had heart disease and passed at fairly young ages as well, I always figured I was going to be genetically challenged with the heart so to speak. Although genetics do in fact play a huge role, I am so very thankful that I came to realize just how big a difference we can make with the individual lifestyles we choose such as diet, exercise etc. Both my primary physician and the cardiologist I saw about 10 years ago when I had a cardiac catheterization after a scare (one of the things that finally put me on the right track to getting healthy) were and still are pretty adamant about the fact that regardless of what your HDL and risk ratio is, a high LDL will eventually catch up to you. As they both said, “There’s a reason it’s called bad cholesterol”. These are my levels after my last physical, now I look forward to the results each year as I strive to lead a healthy lifestyle and will take whatever measures necessary to take care of my heart. Cholesterol – 160 (LDL + HDL + triglycerides/5) – normal or desired < 200="" triglycerides="" –="" 49="" –="" normal="" />< 150="" hdl="" –="" 54="" –="" normal="" /> 35 LDL – 96.2 Normal < 130="" ratio="" -="" .56="" (hdl="" ldl="" or="" 54="" 96.2=".56)" goal="" /> 0.3 ideal > 0.4 I don't remember what my levels were back then, but I was "borderline high" and my doctor mentioned that we might have to think about medications. Once I made the decision to get healthy things progressed quite well and so far I've been extremely fortunate, no medications just a major lifestyle change for me did the trick. Best of luck to everyone out there fighting the battle to lower their cholesterol.

Not quite in my 50s yet; good HDL but relatively high LDL. I've only had the test done twice but the LDL did drop a bit the second year. LDL/HDL/Tri 156/67/122 We didn't have a big discussion about it but my doc definitely stressed that high LDL was bad, no matter what, and we should keep an eye on it. (Lot of high cholesterol in my family but terrible eating habits (non)exercise too, so it's hard to sort out whether that's genetics or lifestyle.) The only reason I went for a physical in the first place was because of the constant nagging about seeing a doc that I read on this forum. Thanks. ETA: Ribs--I went back and read your earlier post. 89 LDL = high I thought anything under 100 was excellent.

I have not had mine checked in awhile and probably need to get it done. Last time it was checked, when applying for life insurance, LDL was in the 90s - is that good? I know HDL was high but total cholesterol was under 200. My ratio qualified me for some sort of discount on the insurance rate so I guess that was good.

I had my cholesterol checked in Jan 08, so I can't get it checked again til Jan 2010 if I want insurance to pay for it. But my numbers were not what I thought they should considering I had been running for about 2 yrs prior to that check. My HDL was 46 LDL was 114 Triglycerides were 88 I have started taking fish oil almost daily since then, so hopefully it's lower now. And I try to eat healthier foods, but I'm sure I still get more than what I should of fat grams. At least that is what my midsection shows me. . .

Here are my numbers: Recommended Actual Total Chol. <200>40 93 Triglycerides <150 56="" ldl=""></150><70 89="" non-hdl=""></70><100 100="" tc/hdl=""></100><3.0 2.1 as you can see, the cardiologist is looking for ldl to be less than 70! so i am surprised at some of the recommended levels that others are showing. 2.1="" as="" you="" can="" see,="" the="" cardiologist="" is="" looking="" for="" ldl="" to="" be="" less="" than="" 70!="" so="" i="" am="" surprised="" at="" some="" of="" the="" recommended="" levels="" that="" others="" are=""></3.0 2.1 as you can see, the cardiologist is looking for ldl to be less than 70! so i am surprised at some of the recommended levels that others are showing.></200>