Cholesterol
So many ways Cholesterol is evaluated and risk is measured.
In general the UK version ensures most people end-up on Statins, which have many side effects.
Using the USA version would put many people in the normal or good section, without the need for intervention.
# UK
## [NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/cholesterol-levels/)
| Cholesterol | Level |
| ----------- | ----- |
| Total | Below 5mmol/L |
| HDL (good cholesterol) | Above 1.0mmol/L for men or above 1.2mmol/L for women |
| Non-HDL (bad cholesterol) | Below 4mmol/L |
The UK uses [QRISK3](https://qrisk.org/) as a measure of risk of a heart attack. This is a propriety calculation which automatically increases by age, so the older you are the more you are likely to be recommended to use Statins. This is a scam.
# USA
## [Johns Hopkins Medicine](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/lipid-panel#:\~:text=Optimal:%20Less%20than%20100%20mg,How%20is%20this%20test%20done?)
| Cholesterol | Level |
| ----------- | ----- |
| Total | Normal: Less than 200 mg/dL <br><br>Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL <br><br>High: At or above 240 mg/dL |
| LDL | Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL (This is the goal for people with diabetes or heart disease.) <br><br>Near optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL <br><br>Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL <br><br>High: 160 to 189 mg/dL <br><br>Very high: 190 mg/dL and higher |
| Triglycerides | Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL <br><br>Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL <br><br>High: 200 to 499 mg/dL <br><br>Very high: Above 500 mg/dL |
## [Mayclinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/cholesterol-ratio/faq-20058006#:\~:text=How%20important%20are%20non%2DHDL,as%20the%20%22bad%22%20cholesterol.)
As the name implies, the non-HDL cholesterol level simply subtracts your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as the "good" cholesterol, number from your total cholesterol number. So the non-HDL number includes all the bad types of cholesterol.
Non-HDL cholesterol for most people is less than 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), which is 3.37 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
| Cholesterol | Level |
| ----------- | ----- |
| Non-HDL = Total - HDL | < 130 milligrams |
To calculate your cholesterol ratio, divide your total cholesterol number by your HDL cholesterol number.
So if your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L) and your HDL is 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L), your ratio would be 4-to-1.
Higher ratios mean a higher risk of heart disease.
## [University of Rochester](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=167&ContentID=lipid_panel_hdl_ratio#:\~:text=The%20higher%20the%20ratio%2C%20the,1%20is%20considered%20very%20good.)
| Cholesterol | Level |
| ----------- | ----- |
| Total | Normal: less than 200 mg/dL<br><br>Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL<br><br>High: at or above 240 mg/dL |
| HDL | Normal: <br><br>35 to 65 mg/dL for men, <br><br>35 to 80 mg/dL for women<br><br>A low HDL cholesterol level is associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease. |
| Total-cholesterol-to-HDL | The higher the ratio, the higher the risk.<br><br>Most doctors want the ratio to be below 5:1.<br><br>A ratio below 3.5:1 is considered very good. |