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Total Cholesterol Formula:
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Total cholesterol is a measurement that represents the sum of all cholesterol types in your blood, including HDL (high-density lipoprotein), LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) which is estimated from triglycerides.
The calculator uses the total cholesterol formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates total cholesterol by adding HDL, LDL, and one-fifth of triglycerides (which estimates VLDL cholesterol).
Details: Knowing your total cholesterol level helps assess cardiovascular risk. While individual cholesterol components provide more specific information, total cholesterol gives a general overview of your cholesterol status.
Tips: Enter HDL, LDL, and triglyceride values in mg/dL. All values must be valid (≥0). For accurate results, use values from the same blood test.
Q1: Why divide triglycerides by 5?
A: This estimates VLDL cholesterol, as VLDL carries most triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol is approximately equal to triglycerides divided by 5.
Q2: What are desirable total cholesterol levels?
A: Generally, less than 200 mg/dL is desirable, 200-239 mg/dL is borderline high, and 240 mg/dL and above is high.
Q3: When should cholesterol be measured?
A: Fasting for 9-12 hours before the test provides the most accurate results, especially for triglyceride measurements.
Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This formula becomes less accurate when triglyceride levels are very high (above 400 mg/dL) or in certain medical conditions.
Q5: Should I focus more on individual cholesterol components?
A: Yes, individual components (HDL, LDL) and ratios often provide more specific cardiovascular risk information than total cholesterol alone.