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How Much Cholesterol Is Too Much?

According to the American Heart Association, a healthy level of total blood cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL. A total blood cholesterol level of between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline. If your bloodwork shows those numbers, your doctor will likely look closer at the balance between your levels of LDL, HDL and triglycerides; sometimes, even though the overall levels are borderline, the various types of cholesterol balance each other. This is not the case with folks whose levels are genuinely high: a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or more.

  1. Definition

    • The National Cancer Institute defines cholesterol as "A waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, and found in the blood and in all cells of the body."

    LDL vs. HDL

    • LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotien) is the "bad" cholesterol. When there's too much moving through the bloodstream, it builds up in the form of arterial plaque. HDL (High-Density Lipoprotien) is the "good" sort, as its job in the body is to carry cholesterol to the liver, where it's removed from the body.

    HDL/LDL Levels

    • In the case of HDL, you want higher numbers. Low levels of HDL (under 40 mg/dL for males, or 50 mg/dL for females) mean higher risk for cardiac disease. For LDL, however, the goal is a low number--anything over 160/dL is in the danger zone.

    Considerations

    • Healthy-range HDL levels in elderly folks have been shown to preserve brain function and slow the rate of mental decline.

    Misconceptions

    • Triglyceride is a kind of fat, not a kind of cholesterol. It's related, however, because patients with elevated triglyceride levels very often have a high level of cholesterol in their bodies, so doctors test for it to get the full picture.

    Fun Fact

    • Healthy levels of cholesterol are manufactured in the liver, so you don't actually need to consume cholesterol to be healthy.

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