Despite an abundance of information touting the negative aspects of cholesterol, this waxy substance has its place in normal body function. Cholesterol is a necessary component in cell membranes. As the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute notes, your body must have cholesterol in order to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids. The key, however, is cholesterol in small amounts. When cholesterol levels rise above what your body requires for normal function, the result can be heart disease. Safe cholesterol levels depend on whether you are male or female.
Total Cholesterol Levels
Your doctor measures cholesterol levels by milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. According to the American Heart Association, when you have a cholesterol test, the number you receive is usually your total blood serum cholesterol level. Total blood cholesterol combines high- and low-density lipoproteins, as well as triglyceride levels, into one number your doctor interprets according to established guidelines such as those provided by the National Cholesterol Education Program.
For men and women, a safe total cholesterol level should be less than 200mg/dl, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program. If your test reading is higher than this number, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends a more detailed test, called a lipoprotein profile that will break numbers down and tell you exactly where your numbers fall.
High Density Lipoprotein
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol, is good cholesterol that keeps your arteries clear and protects you from developing heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Ideally, you want an HDL level of 60mg/dl or higher. If you are a man and your HDL level is less than 40mg/dl, or if you are a woman and your HDL level is 50mg/dl or less, you are at increased risk of developing heart disease.
Low Density Lipoproteins
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol is the cholesterol that builds up and clogs arteries, leading to the onset of heart disease. LDL cholesterol levels less than 100 mg/dl are ideal, with higher numbers displaying varying degrees of risk. As the American Heart Association notes, while LDL cholesterol levels from 100 to 129 mg/dl are close to safe levels, any number over 130mg/dl requires action to bring LDL levels down.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are not cholesterol, but are included in a lipoprotein profile as they represent blood fat levels that also contribute to the onset of heart disease. Triglyceride levels should be lower than 150mg/dl. According to the American Heart Association, levels higher than that speed up the onset of heart disease.
