I am not concerned about my cholesterol these days (after medication it is 170), but since I hear so much about the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol I wonder if it is better to have a low total of bad cholesterol or if it is better to have a higher ratio of good to bad.

For example, is a ratio of 200 good to 100 bad (2:1) better than a ratio of 1:1 where the good and the bad are both 80?

If your total Cholesterol is below the normal or at the normal, the ration is not significant. Physicians will primarily look at the total value first and then the ratio.

If the total is high, then the "ideal" ratio is 3,5:1 (Total Chol divided by HDL level); 5:1 is the bad end of the scale.

Cholesterol is a single risk factor in the risk profile of Cardiovascular problems; one should also look at other lifestyle issues (diet, alcohol, smoking etc), family history etc.

If your total Cholesterol is below the normal or at the normal, the ration is not significant. Physicians will primarily look at the total value first and then the ratio.

If the total is high, then the "ideal" ratio is 3,5:1 (Total Chol divided by HDL level); 5:1 is the bad end of the scale.

Cholesterol is a single risk factor in the risk profile of Cardiovascular problems; one should also look at other lifestyle issues (diet, alcohol, smoking etc), family history etc.

Thanks for the info.

I guess my question is, is it more important to have a good ratio of good cholesterol or more important to have a low level of bad cholesterol?

If your total Cholesterol is below the normal or at the normal, the ration is not significant. Physicians will primarily look at the total value first and then the ratio.

If the total is high, then the "ideal" ratio is 3,5:1 (Total Chol divided by HDL level); 5:1 is the bad end of the scale.

Cholesterol is a single risk factor in the risk profile of Cardiovascular problems; one should also look at other lifestyle issues (diet, alcohol, smoking etc), family history etc.

Thanks for the info.

I guess my question is, is it more important to have a good ratio of good cholesterol or more important to have a low level of bad cholesterol?

Why is it bad or good, ldl cholestrol is called bad because it is moving out from the liver and hdl is called good because it is moving to the liver but they are doing what they do in the body. Check out a book called the cholestrol myth very good reading . You need cholestrol are you will die, very low levels of cholestrol are not good for you, lower levels of sex hormones, loss of memory, and other mental disorders associated with low levels of cholestrol.

Now you have me worried. My blood cholesterol has been as low as 102 but never over 125 or so. My mental health seems fine, don't know about the hormones but sex is fine, too. But my memory has always been <deleted> Now I have a good excuse when I leave my keys or glasses behind somewhere. "Low cholesterol, sorry."

Now you have me worried. My blood cholesterol has been as low as 102 but never over 125 or so. My mental health seems fine, don't know about the hormones but sex is fine, too. But my memory has always been <deleted> Now I have a good excuse when I leave my keys or glasses behind somewhere. "Low cholesterol, sorry."

When I had mine checked a few years ago it was at 136 the next year dropped to 134 and in Jan. 2009 it was down to 132. There are a few articles on the web about the dangers of low cholestrol but you have to look hard for them.

The cell walls of our bodies are made up of cholestrol and when it gets to low this condition can cause the cells to fall apart. Cholestrol is the precursor for sex hormones not enough cholestrol good chance not enough testostrone, estrogen,and progestrone. As mentioned earlier the book Cholestrol Myth is a good read.