Some cholesterol is needed to maintain body function, although too much cholesterol is a leading risk factor for heart disease. A doctor can test your cholesterol level through a blood lipid profile, which involves readings for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The American Heart Association recommends that all adults aged 20 or older have a fasting lipid profile, which is taken after a period of 9 to 12 hours without food, drink or medication, once every five years.
Total Cholesterol
Your total cholesterol represents the total amount of LDL and HDL cholesterol in your blood. A total cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL is considered ideal. If your total cholesterol level falls between 200 and 239 mg/dL, it is classified borderline high. A total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or higher indicates an increased risk for heart disease.
LDL Cholesterol
Your LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol is often referred to as bad cholesterol because it contributes to atherosclerosis, the accumulation of plaque on your artery walls. As your LDL cholesterol increases, so does your heart disease risk. An LDL cholesterol level below 100 mg/dL is ideal for healthy adults, while an LDL cholesterol level below 70 mg/dL is optimal for adults with existing heart disease or other heart disease risk factors. LDL cholesterol between 100 and 129 mg/dL is near optimal, while LDL cholesterol levels of 130 to 159 mg/dL are borderline high. An LDL cholesterol level that exceeds 159 mg/dL puts you at an increased risk for heart disease.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is often called good cholesterol. This type of cholesterol removes excess cholesterol from the blood and carries to your liver, so that it can remove it from your blood. Because of this, the more HDL cholesterol you have, the lower your risk of heart disease becomes. An HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or above is considered protective against heart disease. If HDL falls below 40 mg/dL for a man or 50 mg/dL for a woman, it is considered a risk factor for heart disease.
Triglycerides
Although triglycerides are not a specific type of cholesterol, triglyceride levels are often tested as a part of a lipid profile because they contribute to your heart disease risk. Triglyceride levels below 150 mg/dL are considered normal. Triglyceride levels between 150 and 199 mg/dL are borderline high. As your triglyceride levels increase to 200 mg/dL or higher, they are considered high, and this puts you at an increased risk for heart disease.
