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What Do My Cholesterol Numbers Mean?

Having high cholesterol increases your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).

  1. Total Cholesterol

    • Total cholesterol represents the sum of all types of cholesterol in your blood. The AHA recommends that the total be below 200 mg/dL. If your level is above 240 mg/dL, your risk of heart disease doubles.

    HDL Cholesterol

    • HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, which is the beneficial type of cholesterol. The AHA suggests that your level should be at least 60 mg/dL. If it is lower than 40 mg/dL, your risk significantly increases.

    LDL Cholesterol

    • LDL cholesterol stands for low-density lipoprotein, and you want this level to be as low as possible. The AHA recommends that your LDL level should be below 130 mg/dL for most people and below 100 mg/dL if you suffer from from heart disease or diabetes.

    Triglyceride Levels

    • Triglycerides are a type of fat that has been linked to heart problems. According to the AHA, triglyceride levels below 150 mg/dL are normal and anything over 200 mg/dL is high.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The Mayo Clinic suggests that you can lower your cholesterol levels by losing weight and exercising, lowering the amount of meat and diary products in your diet, eating more whole grains and not smoking or drinking to excess. If your levels are still too high after taking these steps, talk you your doctor about medications that might help decrease your levels.

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