1. What is Cholesterol Risk Factor?

The Cholesterol Risk Factor is a ratio that compares your total cholesterol to your HDL (good) cholesterol. It helps assess your cardiovascular risk by showing the proportion of potentially harmful cholesterol relative to protective cholesterol.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the risk factor formula:

Where:

• Total Cholesterol — Total cholesterol level in mg/dL
• HDL — High-density lipoprotein cholesterol in mg/dL

Explanation: This ratio indicates the balance between your "bad" cholesterol (Total - HDL) and "good" cholesterol (HDL). Lower values indicate better cardiovascular health.

3. Importance of Risk Factor Calculation

Details: This risk factor helps identify individuals at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. It provides a simple way to assess cholesterol balance and guide lifestyle modifications or treatment decisions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both total cholesterol and HDL values in mg/dL. Both values must be positive numbers. For accurate results, use recent blood test results.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good risk factor value?
A: Generally, a ratio below 4.0 is considered desirable, with lower values indicating better cardiovascular health.

Q2: How often should I check my cholesterol levels?
A: Adults should have cholesterol checked every 4-6 years, or more frequently if you have risk factors for heart disease.

Q3: Can this ratio be used alone for risk assessment?
A: No, it should be used in conjunction with other risk factors such as blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, and family history.

Q4: What if my HDL is very high?
A: High HDL levels will result in a lower risk factor, which is generally favorable for cardiovascular health.

Q5: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This ratio doesn't account for other lipid components like LDL and triglycerides, which are also important for comprehensive risk assessment.