There are many negative connotations associated with cholesterol. You typically hear that cholesterol is something you need to monitor and often, lower. High cholesterol levels are known to cause serious health problems, such as heart disease. While these statements are true, there is more to cholesterol that you may not know. Knowing the types and levels of cholesterol can help you maintain acceptable cholesterol numbers.
Triglycerides
The most common type of fat in the body is triglycerides. Your triglyceride level should be less than 150 mg/dL. High triglyceride levels are associated with heart disease and diabetes. Levels between 150 and 199 mg/dL are considered borderline high and levels between 200 and 499 mg/dL are high. Levels over 500 mg/dL are very high. When triglyceride levels are high, you become more vulnerable to the buildup of fat on the walls of your arteries, or atherosclerosis. This condition increases your risk for stroke or heart attack.
High Density Lipoproteins
High density lipoproteins, or HDL, cholesterol is known as the good type of cholesterol because it protects your heart, removing LDL cholesterol from your bloodstream. Therefore, the higher your HDL level, the better. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or higher are considered best for all adults, but minimum HDL levels vary by gender. Women with an HDL level less than 50 mg/dL and men with an HDL level less than 40 mg/dL, are at an increased risk for heart disease. Obesity and lack of exercise significantly lower your HDL cholesterol.
Low Density Lipoproteins
Acceptable levels of low density lipoproteins, or LDL, cholesterol vary from person to person. It is important to keep a low LDL level, as this type of cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke. An LDL level less than 70 mg/dL is ideal for those with a very high risk of heart disease. An LDL level less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal for people at risk for heart disease, while 101 to 129 mg/dL is near to optimal, 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high and 160 to 189 mg/dL is high. An LDL cholesterol level of 190 mg/dL or higher is considered very high. According to the American Heart Association, the average LDL level among Americans over 20 is 115.0 mg/dL.
Total Cholesterol
The American Heart Association recommends that all adults over age 20 have a fasting lipoprotein profile --- which measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides --- once every five years. Total cholesterol is the sum of LDL and HDL cholesterol in your body. Ideally, this level should be under 200 mg/dL. Anything over 200 mg/dL increases your risk of coronary heart disease. If your total cholesterol is between 201 and 239 mg/dL, it is borderline high. If your total cholesterol level is 240 mg/dL, not only is your cholesterol too high, you are also at twice the risk of coronary heart disease than those with total cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dL.
