High cholesterol contributes to the development of hard plaques on the inner walls of your arteries. The development of plaques increases your risk of developing heart disease. To decrease your risk, it is important to keep your cholesterol levels within specific ranges. A blood screening called a lipid profile measures the levels of cholesterol in your blood.
Total Cholesterol
The desired level for total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, short for milligrams per deciliter. If you have low total blood cholesterol and little to no other risk factors, your risk for developing heart disease is relatively low. When your total cholesterol reaches 200 to 239 mg/dL, it is considered borderline high. Total cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL are above are considered high risk. The American Heart Association notes that if your cholesterol levels exceed 240 mg/dL, you are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease.
LDL Cholesterol
The ideal level of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the so-called "bad cholesterol," to lessen the risk of heart disease depends on your risk factors. If you have a family history of heart disease, are overweight, smoke or have high blood pressure, your ideal LDL level is less than 70 mg/dL. If you do not have other risk factors for heart disease, your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL. LDL levels between 100 and 129 mg/dL are considered near ideal. LDL levels between 130 and 159 mg/dL are considered borderline high, and levels from 160 to 189 mg/dL are considered high. If your LDL levels exceed 189 mg/dL, you are considered at very high risk for heart disease.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL, short for high-density lipoprotein, is known as "good cholesterol." HDL cholesterol actually helps remove cholesterol from the body by picking up excess cholesterol from the blood and bringing it back to the liver to be excreted from the body. Because of this, higher HDL levels are considered desirable. HDL levels at 60 mg/dL or above lessen your risk of heart disease. A woman with HDL levels of 50 mg/dL or lower and a man with HDL levels of 40 mg/dL or lower are at an increased risk of developing heart disease.
Triglycerides
Although triglycerides are not an actual type of cholesterol, they are another kind of lipid that affects your risk of heart disease. Like cholesterol, excess triglycerides in the blood increase your risk of developing heart disease. The desired level for triglycerides is less than 150 mg/dL. If your triglyceride levels exceed 150 mg/dL, you are at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
