A good LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol level can vary among individuals depending on a variety of factors. However, there is a range of LDL cholesterol levels that doctors recommend as ideal. According to the Mayo Clinic, a high level of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of developing heart disease.
Measurement
Doctors in the United States measure cholesterol levels in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL, according to the Mayo Clinic. For example, an LDL level of 115 means that each deciliter of your blood contains 115 mg of cholesterol. A cholesterol test, also called a lipid panel or lipid profile, contains the levels of your LDL cholesterol in addition to levels of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Your total cholesterol is the sum of your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.
Ranges
The Mayo Clinic suggests several ranges of LDL cholesterol, or unhealthy cholesterol, as ideal for most people. An LDL cholesterol level of 129 mg/dL or below is near ideal for most people while an LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL and below is very ideal for people at high risk of heart disease. LDL cholesterol levels above 130 mg/dL can be unhealthy and increase your risk of heart disease.
LDL Accumulation
LDL cholesterol accumulates on the artery walls and can impede blood flow because blood has a narrower passage through which to flow. Blood may reach the heart at a slower rate, depriving the heart of oxygen and contributing to a heart attack, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Heart Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, you can be at a high risk of heart disease if you have already suffered a heart attack or stroke or if you suffer from either carotid artery disease or peripheral artery disease. Other risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol levels, diabetes, a genetic history of high cholesterol or heart disease, and elevated lipoprotein levels in the blood. The Mayo Clinic reports that men older than 45 and women older than 55 are at a high risk of heart disease.
Treatment
The goal of cholesterol-lowering treatment is to lower the level of LDL cholesterol in your blood. The Mayo Clinic suggests lifestyle changes such as exercising for at least 30 minutes a day several days a week, losing weight and quitting smoking to lower your risk of heart disease if you have a high level of LDL cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic further suggests consuming less meat and dairy to prevent excess saturated fat and cholesterol in the blood while increasing your intake of soluble fiber from foods such as beans, fruits, oatmeal and vegetables. A doctor may prescribe drugs such as statins, bile acid sequestriants, nicotinic acids, fibric acids or cholesterol absorption inhibitors to help lower your levels of LDL cholesterol, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
