Pages Navigation Menu
Categories Navigation Menu

Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Triglycerides Explained

Posted by on Apr 14, 2012 in Health It UP | 0 comments

what is blood pressure

Going to the doctor’s office can be a stupidly confusing experience. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve gone in for an exam and the doctor would start throwing around words like triglycerides, blood pressure, or HDL/LDL cholesterol, and then tag on some magical ratio or number as a measurement…come on, is that number really supposed to mean anything to the average person??

He’d say something like “your LDL-to-HDL ratio is 95/60 mg/dl and your triglycerides are 145 mg/dl, you’re perfectly healthy.” Great…I’m glad the doctor says that I’m healthy, but I’d love to know what those numbers mean and HOW healthy they really are.

Here’s your guide to the numbers/ratios doctors use to determine your level of health, what these numbers measure, and what numbers to shoot for.

Cholesterol

When cholesterol levels are too high the excess begins to stick to arterial walls, plaque forms (aka atherosclerosis), and ultimately coronary heart disease results. There are two types of cholesterol: HDL or “good” cholesterol, and LDL or “bad” cholesterol. LDL builds up on arterial walls and causes plaque to accumulate, HDL helps clean off the plaque and clears arterial walls.

Total Cholesterol:
    • Good - < 200 mg/dl (mg per deciliter of blood)
    • Elevated - 200-239 mg/dl
    • High - >= 240 mg/dl
LDL Cholesterol:
    • Good - < 100 mg/dl
    • Pretty good - 100-129 mg/dl
    • Elevated - 130-159 mg/dl
    • High - 160-189 mg/dl
    • Very High 0 >= 190 mg/dl
HDL Cholesterol:
    • Low - < 40 mg/dl
    • High - >= 60 mg/dl

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the amount of force applied to the arterial walls when the heart pumps blood. Systolic blood pressure refers to the maximum blood pressure, or the pressure when the heart is beating, and diastolic blood pressure refers to the minimum blood pressure, or the pressure when the heart is at rest. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for CHD, stroke, and heart attack. Blood pressure is measured by a sphygmomanometer (the squeezy cuff thing) and is given as a systolic/diastolic ratio (e.g. 120/80).

  • Good - < 120 mm HG/ < 80 mm HG
  • Pre-Hypertension - 120-139/80-89
  • Stage 1 Hypertension - 140-159/90-99
  • Stage 2 Hypertension - >= 160/>= 100

 

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the excess bits of fat that circulate throughout the blood stream. High levels are one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

  • Good - < 150 mg/dl
  • Elevated - 150-199 mg/dl
  • High - 200-499 mg/dl
  • Very High - > 500 mg/dl

 

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

C-reactive protein is a protein found in the blood that doctors use to measure levels of inflammation. Inflammation is a major cause of a cornucopia of horrible diseases, including diabetes, CHD, atherosclerosis, and cancer. You want CRP levels to be low, low, low.

  • Low Risk of CHD - < 1.0 mg/dl
  • Moderate CHD Risk - 1.0-3.0 mg/dl
  • High CHD Risk - > 3.0 mg/dl


Fasting Blood Glucose

Fasting blood glucose measures the amount of sugar in the blood, which is primarily used as a test for diabetes.

  • Good - < 100 mg/dl
  • Pre-Diabetes - 100-125 mg/dl
  • Diabetes - >= 126 mg/dl


Follow Lean It UP on Twitter for real-time fitness/nutrition tips, advice, info, and updates.

Bryan DiSanto

Owner & Editor-in-Chief at Lean It UP
Bryan DiSanto is the Owner & Editor-in-Chief of Lean It UP, ACE-CPT & CSN, NYU graduate, ex-fat kid, and all-around fitness/nutrition nutjob.

When he’s not working on his (or somebody else’s) abs, whipping up Eggocados, or running a Tough Mudder, he’s probably off yelling at a Carolina Panthers game somewhere.

Latest posts by Bryan DiSanto (see all)