How to Calculate LDL Cholesterol

Video Transcript

"Today heart disease is a major concern in our country. One of the ways that we can really monitor that within our selves and within our families is to regularly have our cholesterol checked. Hi my name is Jani Roberts and I am a Nationally Certified Personal Trainer and also a graduate of the American Academy of Nutrition. Today I would like to talk to you about how you can calculate your LDL's or Low Density Lipoprotein. This has to be done through a blood panel and of course you would have to go to a physician to have that prescription written for that blood panel to be taken. Now prior to the lipid panel being taken you will have to complete a fast. This would happen the evening before and then of course no liquids including water after midnight. Once you have fasted blood will be drawn and different things will be looked at, not just your LDL which is your low density but also your high density lipoproteins. In addition your triglycerides will be looked at. All of this information helps to calculate that LDL number. Now you have probably heard low density liproproteins being referred to as the bad cholesterol. Remember our body manufactures all the cholesterol that we need so we want to make sure that we don't have what we don't need in excess. What happens is first we actually calculate the total cholesterol and we do this by dividing whatever number of triglycerides that comes back by five. Once they have calculated the total cholesterol they then actually subtract the high density liproprotein number. Once they have subtracted that they add the triglyceride number back in and there it is your low density liproprotein number. This is exactly how it is calculated. However one good point you do want to remember, the most important thing when you get that cholesterol reading back is not to panic if the numbers are high but to look at what your cholesterol ratio numbers was between LDL and HDL, this is really the key. I'm Jani Roberts. Stay healthy and thanks or joining us."