What is a

healthy cholesterol level?

What is cholesterol?
Your body needs some cholesterol to work well but it only needs a limited amount to meet its needs. Unhealthy levels of any of these fats in your blood can put you at risk of heart disease.

Total Cholesterol is a measure of all the fats (lipids) in your blood:

LDL (bad cholesterol) may cause a buildup in your arteries and increase your chance of heart disease. HDL (good cholesterol) may help clean plaque from the blood. Triglycerides are fats carried in the blood from the food we eat, and are also made in the liver.

Why its important to get tested

An elevated level of cholesterol in the blood is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease, so it is important to have your cholesterol checked at regular intervals. How often you should have your cholesterol levels checked depends on your specific risk factors for heart disease, so ask your doctor about it.

Know your Cholesterol Numbers

The recommended test is called lipid profile. Its taken using a small sample of blood following a 9- to 12-hour period without food, liquid, or oral medications. Cholesterol levels are measured as milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL. Once you know your cholesterol levels, you can work with your doctor to get them to the healthy range.

Your LDL, HDL and Triglycerides goal depends on how many risk factors* you have. In general:

Cholesterol Guidelines:

LDL
Below

Below 160 mg/dL if you have 1 or no risk factors 130 mg/dL if you have 2 or more risk factors Below 100 mg/dL if you have heart disease or diabetes

Triglycerides to be lower:

HDL to be higher:

A normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL. Borderline high is between 150-199 mg/dL. High is between 200 and 499 mg/dL. Very high is 500 mg/dL and greater.

High HDL is 60 mg/dL or higher. Low HDL is less than 40 mg/dL.

* Risk factors for heart disease include age>45, family history, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and low HDL.

How do you measure up?

Know your numbers and ask your doctor to help you set goals based on specific medical history and risk factors.

Sources: American Heart Association & National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services Disclaimer: The information and advice contained here does not constitute medical advice, and is neither exhaustive nor definitive in all circumstances. Please consult your doctor if in doubt or need further advice.