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What Is a Good Cholestoral Level?

Knowing your cholesterol numbers is important, since high cholesterol is a health risk. Age, sex and underlying medical conditions can all affect what numbers are ideal for each person. It's best to discuss ideal lab results with your physician, but below you'll learn some general guidelines for determining good levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides.

  1. Total Number

    • Your total cholesterol number combines both the "good" and "bad" cholesterol levels in your blood. Doctors generally consider a total cholesterol level under 200 to be ideal. Numbers between 200 and 239 are "borderline high." However, if you fall into the borderline number for total cholesterol and your HDL is high and LDL is normal, your doctor will generally be less concerned about the high total cholesterol.

    HDL

    • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is sometimes referred to as "good" cholesterol. Because this kind of cholesterol helps the body remove fatty build-up in the arteries, doctors want your HDL levels to be high. Low HDL levels are more strongly linked to heart diseases in women, so doctors want HDL levels to be higher for women than for men. In healthy adults, HDL should be above 40 for men and above 50 for women. Levels of 60 or higher are associated with protection from heart disease and this level is ideal for both sexes.

    LDL

    • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is sometimes referred to as "bad" cholesterol, and so lower levels are better. Levels between 100 and 129 are near optimal, while a level under 100 is ideal for most healthy adults. Those with heart disease or a strong family history of heart disease are encouraged to aim for levels of 70 or under.

    Triglycerides

    • Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that provide you with energy. Some triglycerides are necessary and healthful, but levels can be increased to unhealthy levels by excess consumption of sugar and alcohol. Poorly controlled diabetes or untreated hypothyroidism can also elevate triglycerides. Ideal numbers for most people are under 150. Between 150 and 199 is considered borderline high.

    Considerations

    • Older adults and people with certain health conditions or family histories of heart disease are often encouraged to aim for lower cholesterol levels than the general population. For instance, those with diabetes are often encouraged to keep their total cholesterol lower than non-diabetics. Those with a strong family history of heart disease are encouraged to keep LDL and total cholesterol especially low while aiming for an HDL level in the 60s. Because the risk of heart disease increases as we age, men over 45 and women over 55 should be especially vigilant about keeping LDL levels low and HDL levels high.

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