High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the top three leading causes of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In order to keep your risk of developing these diseases low, it is important that you keep your cholesterol levels within normal ranges. Your doctor can test your cholesterol levels using a blood test called a lipid profile.
Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol measures the amount of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. Normal total cholesterol levels are less than 200 mg/dL. Total cholesterol between 200 and 239 mg/dL is classified as borderline high and total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL is high.
LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol, often referred to as bad cholesterol, contributes to the formation of plaque on the walls of your arteries. LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal, although LDL cholesterol levels between 100 and 129 mg/dL are classified as near optimal. LDL cholesterol levels between 130 and 159 mg/dL are borderline high and levels between 160 and 189 mg/dL are high. LDL cholesterol of 190 mg/dL or above are very high.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is the type of cholesterol referred to as good cholesterol. HDL cholesterol moves through your arteries picking up excess cholesterol and bringing it to the liver for removal. The goal for HDL cholesterol is to get your numbers as high as possible. HDL cholesterol levels of 60 mg/dL or higher are considered ideal. If your HDL cholesterol falls below 40 mg/dL, it is considered a major risk factor for heart disease.
Triglycerides
Although triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, it is important to mention them when referring to cholesterol levels. Like cholesterol, triglycerides are a type of lipid that circulates through your blood. Alone, high cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. The combination of high cholesterol and high triglycerides raises that risk even more significantly. A normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL. When your triglycerides reach 150 to 199 mg/dL, they are classified as borderline high and triglyceride levels between 200 and 499 are high. If your triglycerides exceed 499 mg/dL, they are considered very high.
