Nervous and anxious, you wait to be bombarded with numbers you don't understand. Sometimes test results are mailed later, so there isn't a chance for your doctor to explain them to you in person. Although your physician is your best source for answers to questions you may have, what follows are interpretations for several common medical test results. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a soft, fatty substance that, in reasonable quantities, is essential to forming cell membranes and some hormones. High levels of cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol is tested with a blood sample and measured in milligrams per deciliter.
Levels from 200-239 are borderline high. A result of 240 or more is considered high. For a more accurate assessment of heart disease risk, total cholesterol count must be broken down into the balance between lipoprotein levels. Lipoproteins are the vehicles that carry cholesterol through the blood stream. The opposite is true for HDL levels.