Serum cholesterol measures all types of cholesterol in the bloodstream, including HDL and LDL levels, as well as very low and intermediate density lipoprotein content. A healthy level is no more than 200 milligrams per deciliter, with bad cholesterol making up no more than half. Doctors can prescribe medication or recommend dietary changes to lower bad cholesterol and promote good cholesterol. Regular blood tests can monitor cholesterol levels and prevent serious health problems.
Serum cholesterol is a term that includes the total level of cholesterol found in the bloodstream. Measuring your total cholesterol level includes identifying all types or classes of cholesterol that are in your system. This useful measurement helps determine if the balance between HDL or good cholesterol and LDL or bad cholesterol is within acceptable limits.
While monitoring HDL and LDL levels are part of what goes into a serum cholesterol assessment, they aren’t the only factors considered. This measurement also involves identifying the current level of very low density lipoprotein content, as well as intermediate density lipoprotein levels. These readings, along with your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, help provide a complete picture of the lipids and proteins currently in your body.
Over time, breaking down the various components that make up the serum cholesterol reading has helped doctors identify a number of potential health problems and treat them before they become a problem. While the presence of good cholesterol is beneficial in maintaining organ health and providing the body with needed energy, the presence of bad cholesterol can lead to blockages which can lead to heart and lung problems. For this reason, the medical community has developed standards for what is considered a healthy level of good cholesterol, as well as guidelines for what constitutes excessive amounts of bad cholesterol in the blood.
Overall, total serum cholesterol is not expected to exceed 200 milligrams for every deciliter of blood in your system. Bad cholesterol should make up no more than half of that amount. Ideally, many doctors prefer the ratio of good to bad cholesterol to be more like two to one, with the bloodstream containing twice the amount of good cholesterol as the amount of bad cholesterol present.
Simple blood tests from time to time help your doctor monitor cholesterol levels in the body and identify trends that can often be corrected with diet. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe medications formulated to lower bad cholesterol while promoting the production of good cholesterol. Because the serum cholesterol reading contains a breakdown of all cholesterol classes present and the current milligram per deciliter ratio present, high cholesterol can be addressed before serious health problems develop.
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