How useful is it to know my cholesterol ratio?
Answer: Although the cholesterol ratio can be a useful predictor of heart disease risk, especially in the elderly, it is more important for treatment purposes to know the value for each level separately because both LDL- and HDL-cholesterol separately affect your risk of heart disease and the levels of both may need to be improved by treatment. If you have LDL-cholesterol of 100 mg/dL or above, lowering your LDL-cholesterol is the main goal of treatment. Your doctor will, however, also consider your HDL when deciding on treatments and goals. The ratio is useful if it helps you and your doctor keep the entire picture of your LDL and HDL levels in mind, but it should not take the place of knowing your separate LDL and HDL levels.
