Having high levels of cholesterol, a fatty substance that travels in the blood, predisposes you to cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease, chest pain and a heart attack, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. To identify heart disease risk, doctors often recommend cholesterol testing using a lipoprotein profile. In a lipoprotein profile, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL. To bring cholesterol levels within the normal range, the American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in your daily diet. Exercising, avoiding tobacco, controlling diabetes and maintaining a healthy weight also improve cholesterol levels in people with or at risk for high cholesterol.
Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol is the most common method of measuring blood cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. A normal, or desirable, total cholesterol result is less than 200 mg/dL. People with total cholesterol levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL have borderline high cholesterol, and those with 240 mg/dL and above have high total cholesterol levels.
LDL Cholesterol Level
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol is often referred to as bad cholesterol and is the primary cause of cholesterol buildup in the arteries, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The higher your LDL levels, the worse the implication for your heart health. Optimal LDL cholesterol levels are 100 mg/dL or below. People with levels between 100 and 129 have near optimal or above optimal LDL levels. An LDL cholesterol level between 130 and 159 mg/dL is borderline high. Doctors consider people with high LDL levels between 160 and 189 mg/dL, and very high levels are 190 mg/dL and above.
HDL Cholesterol Level
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol is often referred to as the good cholesterol because this form of cholesterol prevents buildup in the arteries. For HDL, a measurement of less than 40 mg/dL is a major risk factor for heart disease, whereas a measurement of 60 mg/dL protects against heart disease. The higher your HDL measurement, the better, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Triglycerides
Like cholesterol, triglycerides are a form of fat that circulate in the blood. When you undergo a lipoprotein panel, your triglyceride level is measured along with your cholesterol levels. Triglyceride levels in the 150 to 199 mg/dL range are borderline high; triglycerides over 200 mg/dL are high. If you have borderline high or high triglyceride levels, you may need to take cholesterol-lowering medications.
