Heart and cholesterol
Total cholesterol
TC
Included in every MyHealthspan membership: Focus, Baseline, and Complete.
Compare membershipsOne number that adds up all your cholesterol.
Total cholesterol is the sum of the cholesterol carried in your blood, including LDL and HDL cholesterol. It's a familiar starting point for understanding heart health and is used in common risk calculators alongside your other results.
The breakdown matters more than the total.
Your body needs cholesterol to build cells and make hormones, vitamin D, and bile. Total cholesterol adds up the cholesterol in all the particles that carry it, including the HDL often called "good" cholesterol.
Because HDL is part of the total, two people with the same total cholesterol can have quite different risk. That's why your result is read alongside LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and ApoB.
Total cholesterol tells you how much. The breakdown tells you what kind.
Questions
Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?
Usually, you don't. Canadian guidelines accept a non-fasting sample for most people. Your clinician may ask for a fasting test in some situations, such as when your triglycerides come back high.
What does a high total cholesterol result mean?
It often reflects higher LDL cholesterol, though a high HDL can also push the total up. A clinician looks at the breakdown, along with your blood pressure, smoking status, family history, and other risk factors, before deciding whether anything needs to change.
What affects total cholesterol?
Your genes, eating habits, body weight, and activity level all play a part. Cholesterol also tends to rise with age, and some medical conditions and medications can affect it.