Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is vital to good health, but if you have too much, it can cause heart disease. Excess cholesterol sticks to the walls of blood vessels, blocking blood flow and increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol causes no symptoms, so the only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to have a test. Talk to your doctor about cholesterol screening.
Total Cholesterol
Once you've had your blood tested for cholesterol, the results will have several numbers which, taken together, give you and your doctor a full picture of your risk for heart disease. The first of these numbers is total cholesterol, which simply means the concentration of all cholesterol in your blood, measured in milligrams per deciliter. A level of 240 mg/dL or more is considered high cholesterol and a level between 200 mg/dL and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high. Ask your doctor about treatments or dietary changes that might help lower this number. If your total cholesterol number is below 200 mg/dL, your total cholesterol is in the healthy range.
LDL Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol because it is the form of cholesterol that sticks to your arteries, causing the blockages that can lead to heart disease. The higher your LDL number, the higher your risk for heart disease. An LDL cholesterol level of 160 to 189 mg/dL is considered high, anything above 190 mg/dL is considered very high, while levels 130 to 159 mg/dL are considered borderline high. An LDL level between 100 and 129 mg/dL is considered near ideal but if you are at risk for heart disease, your doctor may try to lower that number in hopes of preventing the disease from developing. An LDL cholesterol level under 100 mg/dL is considered a good target for people at risk of heart disease and those at high risk may be better off at levels below 70 mg/dL.
HDL Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because it scrubs your body of excess cholesterol and brings it to the liver to be disposed of. The higher your HDL level, the lower your risk for heart disease. If your HDL level is less than 40 mg/dL, you have a major risk factor for heart disease. If your HDL level is higher than 60 mg/dL, you have a lower risk for heart disease.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are another type of fat that is often included in cholesterol screening tests because they can also raise your risk of heart disease. Like cholesterol, triglycerides circulate in the blood and appear to contribute to the blockages on blood vessel walls that can cause heart disease. The higher your triglyceride level, the higher your risk of heart disease. A triglycerides level above 200 mg/dL is considered high, while a level 500 mg/dL or above is considered very high and a level between 150 and 199 mg/ dL is considered borderline high. A triglycerides level below 150 mg/dL is considered optimal.
