Medical experts have established general guidelines for good total cholesterol counts for most people. According to the Mayo Clinic, in the United States and other countries, your total serum cholesterol count reflects the milligrams of cholesterol in a deciliter of your blood (mg/dL), while in Canada and much of Europe it is reported in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
Desirable Cholesterol Levels
Numerous health authorities--such as the American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health and Mayo Clinic--consider total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL to be most desirable. The American Heart Association states that cholesterol below this level puts you at a lower risk for heart disease, while a higher level puts you at greater risk.
Borderline and High Cholesterol Levels
Total cholesterol between 200 mg/dL and 240 mg/dL is considered borderline by these same organizations. Anything above 240 mg/dL is considered high. The American Heart Association warns that individuals with levels above 240 mg/dL more than double their risk of coronary heart disease when compared to individuals with levels below 200 mg/dL.
What a Total Cholesterol Count Doesn't Tell You
Knowing your total cholesterol level is important, but it doesn't tell the whole story. While it provides an overall total, it does not include information about high-density lipoproteins (HDL or good cholesterol), low-density lipoproteins (LDL or bad cholesterol) or triglycerides (another lipid measure of heart health). In order to get these measurements, you will need to ask your physician for a complete lipoprotein profile or panel.
Where to Get a Total Cholesterol Test
Besides your physician, a number of community organizations, health fairs and even grocery stores offer total cholesterol tests. You will need to provide a small blood sample, and the results are often available instantly. If you want more than an overall cholesterol count, ask your physician to order a complete lipoprotein profile, which will reveal your total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride counts. The National Institutes of Health recommends fasting nine to 12 hours before a complete lipoprotein test. Adults over 20 should have this test repeated every five years.
Interpreting Cholesterol Results
While the cholesterol ranges cited by health organizations are a useful guide, you should ask your physician about what your cholesterol results mean to you. Certain populations are more at risk for developing high cholesterol, and many medications impact cholesterol levels. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important for everyone at every age, not just older adults or at-risk groups, so it's critical to test it regularly.
