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Total cholesterol
Total cholesterol is the sum of all cholesterol measured with a blood test. This total includes high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is sometimes called the "good cholesterol," and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called the "bad cholesterol," and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
The ratio (or comparison) of the total cholesterol number to the "good" (HDL) cholesterol number is also important, especially if total cholesterol is high. A higher ratio increases the risk of heart disease.
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