Cholesterol Screening Numbers
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the body. Your body uses cholesterol to produce hormones and some vitamins. When too much cholesterol is in the blood, it leads to increased risk of a heart attack, stroke, and other health problems.
Cholesterol comes from your liver, and from foods you eat.
There are two types of cholesterol:
- Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as the "bad" cholesterol. LDL carries cholesterol to your blood vessels and clogs them. The higher your LDL (bad) cholesterol level, and the more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
- High-density lipoproteins (HDL), also known as the "good cholesterol. HDL helps to remove cholesterol from your body.
To maintain or lower your cholesterol levels:
- Eat a heart healthy diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol
- Be active every day
- Maintain a healthy weight
What your cholesterol numbers mean
There are different ways to measure cholesterol. While it is important to know your total cholesterol numbers, you should also know your LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol numbers.
Total cholesterol
| Level | Number | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Desirable | Less than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) |
Good for you! Make sure to maintain your weight, eat a heart healthy diet, and be physically active daily. |
| Borderline high | 200-239 mg/dL | Depending on your other risk factors, you may be at higher risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor about your risk. |
| High | 240 mg/dL or more | You are at higher risk for clogged arteries and a heart attack. See your doctor right away. |
LDL (bad) cholesterol
| Level | Number | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Desirable | Less than 100 mg/dL | Good for you! Make sure to maintain your weight, eat a heart healthy diet, and be physically active daily. |
| Near Desirable | 100-129 mg/dL | It is important to keep your LDL low. The goal for the LDL (bad) cholesterol level is different for each person. The number of risk factors you have affects your LDL goal, such as high blood pressure, low HDL, family history of heart disease, age and gender, and smoking. See your doctor to set an appropriate goal for your LDL level. |
| Borderline high | 130-159 mg/dL | |
| High | 160 or more mg/dL |
HDL (good) cholesterol
Keep your HDL cholesterol level above 40 mg/dL.
Information Sources:
