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Cholesterol Ratio Calculator
Table of Contents
**Updates**
We updated this page on 21st of July 2025, added interactive PSA Density Calculator that can be used with either blood results or MRI report. Added a detailed explanation of how the calculator works, and added more related questions to the FAQs section.
What exactly is PSA?
Cholesterol is a fat substance found in your body and the ratio shows if good HDL balances your total cholesterol.
Low ratio (<3.5) indicates low risk of heart disease, whilst a high ratio (>5.0) is strongly linked to blocked arteries.
Improvement in the cholesterol ratio is possible. Most can expect to see better ratio in 8-12 weeks.
Total cholesterol on its own doesn't give the complete picture:
- Looking at total cholesterol number alone can be misleading. Lets follow the example below to understand this.
- Two people, both with 200 total cholesterol:
- Person A has 80 HDL cholesterol, Person A's ratio: 200/80 = 2.5 (great news!)
- Person B has 40 HDL. Person B's ratio: 200/40 = 5.0 (not so great)
- By comapring the ratio of "good" HDL to total cholesterol, it shows hidden risks which would not be obvious from looking at the total cholesterol alone.
Low and High ratio thresholds:
- Low ratio (under 3.5) = A ratio below 3.5 means your HDL works to effectively clears out artery preventing clogging. This cuts heart attack/stroke risk by 50-70% compared to high ratios.
- High ratio (above 5.0) = Ratios over 5.0 indicate not enough HDL needed to clean up "bad" LDL, tripling heart disease risk. Next steps: Get a full lipid panel (LDL, triglycerides) and a blood pressure check. You can improve your ratio: Diet: Swap white bread for oats, add heart-healthy fats like walnuts/avocados to boost HDL by 15% Exercise: 150 mins/week brisk walking drops ratio by 20% in 3 months
Ratio can be improved with the right changes:
- To improve your cholesterol ratio, make changes in your diet and lifestyle. The key is to be consistent with the changes. So planning achievable changes based on your day to day life is important.
- Dietary changes revolve around healthy fats with plenty of fruit and vegetables giving you plenty of vitamins and fibre. Practical steps could be to swap white bread for oats, add heart-healthy fats like walnuts/avocados to boost HDL.
- As for exercise you can start off with brisk walking aiming for 150 mins a week. Quit smoking if you smoke, and keep a healthy weight.
HDL - (High Density Lipoprotein) - Known as "good" cholesterol, helps to remove "bad" cholesterol from your body. Prostate-Specific Antigen, A protein released by the prostate into your blood.
LDL - (Low Density Lipoprotein) - Known as "bad" cholesterol, too much can build up in the arteries. This build up can raise heart disease risk.
Heart disease risk - Chances of having heart problems.
How to use Cholesterol Ratio Calculator
- Find your Total Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol values from your blood test report.
- Select the correct unit (mg/dL or mmol/L).
- Enter your values into the fields below and click "Calculate" to get your cholesterol ratio.
- If you need to redo, click "Reset" to start fresh.
**All information is private, no data is saved or shared. You can print your results for easy reference or to share with your doctor or healthcare provider.**
Cholesterol Ratio Calculator
Disclaimer
The online clinical calculators provided on Aidstat.com are intended for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for clinical reasoning, professional judgement, or expert advice from qualified healthcare practitioners.
While extensive effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by these calculators, Aidstat.com cannot guarantee its accuracy or reliability. Users are advised to independently verify any results obtained through the use of these tools before making any medical or healthcare decisions.
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FAQs
Q1. What’s the difference between Cholesterol Ratio and Triglyceride/HDL Ratio?
- PSAD above 0.20 ng/mL/cc - Higher prostate cancer risk.
- PSAD between 0.10-0.15 ng/mL/cc - Intermediate cancer risk.
- PSAD below 0.10 ng/mL/cc - Lower risk for significant disease.
Q2. What will happen if my PSA is raised?
- First, confirm raised PSA by repeating the test, importantly after addressing any temporary causes such as infections that could have caused it.
- Additional tests like free-to-total PSA ratio or MRI can help assess prostate health.
- Then a shared decision making process guides what further steps to be taken based on test results and individual patient factors.
Q3. Does a high PSA mean I have cancer?
- No, high PSA doesn't always mean cancer. Many non-cancerous conditions can cause high PSA.
- About 70% of elevated PSA results are false positives, with only 25% of biopsies finding cancer.
- Doctors consider multiple factors, including age and other tests, to get a better assessment of prostate health.
Q4. What is Normal PSA Density by Age?
- Below 50 years: Normal PSAD is usually below 0.10 ng/mL².
- 50-59 years: PSAD up to 0.15 ng/mL² can be considered normal.
- 60-69 years: Normal PSAD can reach 0.20 ng/mL².
- over 70 years: PSAD may approach 0.25 ng/mL².
Q5. What medications can increase PSA levels?
- Testosterone replacement therapy, especially intramuscular injections, can raise PSA.
- Corticosteroids, like betamethasone, can also increase PSA levels in some cases.
- On the other hand, medications such as 5α-reductase inhibitors (eg. Finasteride, Dutasteride), NSAIDs, statins, and thiazide diuretics can lower PSA levels.
Q6. What can cause a false high PSA reading?
- Recent ejaculation can lead PSA rising temporarily, especially in men over 50.
- Intense exercise such as cycling, or physical activities involving the prostate can also increase PSA levels.
- Prostate infections, swelling, or certain medical procedures like having a catheter can result in higher PSA readings.
Q7. How to Lower PSA Levels?
- Evidence suggests incorporate dietary changes like consuming cooked tomato products rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, can help.
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, stress management, and increased fibre intake.
- Consult healthcare providers before making any significant changes to your diet or start supplementing. They can help you with creating a personalised plan that works for you whether it be natural approach or using tried and tested medicines.
References
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