According to the Centers for Disease Control, most sudden deaths from heart disease in the U.S. occur in men and about 50 percent of these men have no prior warning signs. As high cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, adults should have their cholesterol levels checked at least once every five years and maintain healthy cholesterol levels to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke, says the National Institutes of Health or NIH.
Total Cholesterol
Cholesterol tests should be done on fasting blood samples, that is without eating or drinking anything except water for nine to twelve hours before the test, says the Mayo Clinic. The NIH says that fasting total cholesterol levels should be below 200 mg/dL. Total cholesterol levels in the range of 200 to 239 mg/dL are considered borderline high and levels above 240 mg/dL are considered high by NIH standards.
HDL
For HDL or good cholesterol levels, a higher number is better because HDL cholesterol helps to protect against heart disease, says the American Heart Association or AHA. Desirable HDL cholesterol levels for men are above 60 mg/dL and are considered protective against heart disease, reports the AHA. According to the AHA, HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL are considered to be a major risk factor for heart disease in men.
LDL
LDL or bad cholesterol is a better indicator of heart disease risk than total cholesterol, says the AHA. According to the AHA, LDL levels below 100 mg/dL are considered best. LDL levels in the 100 to 129 mg/dL range are considered near or above optimal; 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high; 160 to 189 mg/dL is high; and 190 mg/dL and higher is very high, reports the AHA.
Triglycerides
According to the AHA, triglycerides are another common fat in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease when levels are too high. Desirable levels of triglycerides are 150 mg/dL or less, reports the AHA. Levels of 150 to 199 mg/dL are considered as borderline high; 200 to 499 mg/dL is considered high; and 500 mg/dL is considered very high, says the AHA.
