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How to Read My Cholesterol Test Results

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your bloodstream. Your body needs it to maintain healthy cells, but too much raises your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Your doctor can assess your cholesterol levels through a simple blood test. For the most accurate results you should fast for at least nine hours before the test. Your results are likely to include four different numbers, each measuring a different aspect of your cholesterol levels. Each number is expressed in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).

  1. Total Cholesterol

    • Your test results are likely to include a figure for the total cholesterol in your blood. A reading of 240 mg/dL or higher indicates that your cholesterol is high, according to the Mayo Clinic, while anything between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high. Ideally, your total cholesterol levels should be 200 mg/dL or less.

    LPL Levels

    • Low-density lipoprotein, or LPL, is the worst kind of cholesterol because it narrows your arteries, increasing blood pressure and raising your risk of heart disease or stroke. Any result above 160 mg/dL is considered high, while above 190 mg/dL is very high. An LPL level of between 100 and 129 mg/dL is ideal for most people, says the Mayo Clinic, but anyone at risk of heart disease should aim to keep their LPLs under 100 mg/dL.

    HDL Levels

    • High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, on the other hand, is thought of as “good” cholesterol. Your body needs it to transport “bad” cholesterol away from your cells and back to your liver, where it disintegrates. As a result, higher HDL levels are a good sign. Anything below 40 mg/dL for men, and 50 mg/dL for women, is considered poor. Both men and women should aim for a level above 60 mg/dL.

    Triglyceride Levels

    • Triglycerides are another form of fat in your body and bloodstream and are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. An ideal level of triglycerides is below 150 mg/dL, with anything between 159 and 199 considered borderline high. Levels above 200 mg/dL are high, with any result above 500 mg/dL categorized as very high. Even if your triglyceride results show an elevated level, diet, exercise and weight loss can usually bring the level down in a relatively short period of time, according to the American Heart Association.

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