It's important to show concern for your cholesterol levels. After all, it's a major contributing factor for heart disease. Determining your health risk based on a level of 206 depends entirely on the type of cholesterol to which you are referring. The first step in preventing serious health risks is understanding the various cholesterol types and what a healthy level is for each.
Types of Cholesterol
Your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is the main carrier of cholesterol in your body. This is the type most often associated with high cholesterol and heart disease, building along the walls of your arteries when excess amounts are present. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, combats LDL cholesterol by clearing the excess from your body and helping to prevent heart disease. Levels of HDL must be high for maximum benefit. Total cholesterol is a measurement of all cholesterol in your blood. Before deciding if your total cholesterol level poses a health risk, your doctor takes into consideration your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. This helps determine how much of an influence either has on your total cholesterol level.
Cholesterol Levels
A level of LDL cholesterol that is 100 mg/dL or less is optimal, while a level that is 160 mg/dL or above is high. The higher your HDL level, the healthier it is. The American Heart Association deems this healthy level as 60 mg/dL or above. Your total cholesterol is healthy if the level is 200 mg/dL or less; 200 to 239 mg/dL is borderline high.
The Total Cholesterol Exception
Both your LDL and HDL cholesterol affect your total cholesterol level. If either is high, your total cholesterol will be high as well. Your doctor determines if your level poses a risk depending on which cholesterol type is causing the rise. Should your LDL be high, a total cholesterol of 206 may be cause for concern. If your HDL is high, as it should be, this will cause an increase in your total cholesterol, even if your LDL is within a healthy range. In this case, there is no reason for concern.
Lowering Your Cholesterol
The cholesterol type posing the greatest risk with a level of 206 mg/dL is your LDL. Making a commitment to lower it is the first step to improving your heart health. If you are obese, losing 10 lbs. can lower your LDL between 5 and 8 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Reducing your intake of foods high in saturated fat -- such as high-fat dairy products, red meat, organ meat and eggs -- to 7 percent of your daily calories can reduce your cholesterol between 8 and 10 percent. Consuming 5 to 10 g a day of soluble fiber -- such as fruit, beans, dried peas and oatmeal -- can improve your LDL between 3 and 5 percent. Adding 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week can strengthen your heart and lower your LDL simultaneously.
Follow-Up
Make regular visits to your doctor. This allows your progress to be monitored and a cholesterol-lowering medication to be prescribed for you if necessary. The American Heart Association recommends cholesterol testing once every five years when you reach the age of 20. If you have high cholesterol, though, your doctor may decide you require testing more frequently.
