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Healthy Cholesterol Ranges

High cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke. Maintaining the following ranges, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can help to ensure you remain heart healthy.

  1. Total cholesterol

    • Total cholesterol is desired to be less than 200 mg/dL. The ratio and relationship between your HDL, LDL and triglyceride readings also are important. For example, a high total cholesterol reading that includes a high "good" cholesterol (HDL) reading would not be considered a health risk unless other factors were present.

    HDL

    • HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is the good cholesterol, so the higher the number, the better. An HDL reading of 60 mg/dL and above is considered ideal and actually lowers the risk of heart disease. Women tend to have higher (better) HDL numbers than men.

    LDL

    • LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the bad cholesterol. A reading of less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal; however, a range of 100-129 mg/dL also might be acceptable depending upon your other risk factors.

    Triglycerides

    • High levels of triglycerides, along with high or borderline readings of LDL, is thought to increase the build up of deposits in the arteries, thereby increasing the risk for a heart attack or stroke. Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dL are considered normal.

    Considerations

    • Those with existing risks such as smoking, obesity and diabetes or those with family risk factors would be advised to maintain levels slightly lower than those listed, particularly for LDL readings.

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