High Choleresterol What Cholesterol Range Should You Strive For? What Do Your Cholesterol Numbers Mean? Everyone age 20 and older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every 5 years. It is best to have a blood test called a "lipoprotein profile" to find out your cholesterol numbers. This blood test is done after a 9- to 12-hour fast and gives information about your: Total cholesterol LDL (bad) cholesterol--the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries HDL (good) cholesterol--helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries Triglycerides--another form of fat in your blood If it is not possible to get a lipoprotein profile done, knowing your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol can give you a general idea about your cholesterol levels. If your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL* or more or if your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL, you will need to have a lipoprotein profile done. Even your doctor can be caught by surprise. I run regularly so my doctor just never bothered too much with worrying about my health. Turns out I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It runs in the family. Make certain you ask your doctor to do these simple blood tests at least annually. See how your cholesterol numbers compare to the tables below. Total Cholesterol Level Category Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable 200-239 mg/dL Borderline High 240 mg/dL and above High * Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. LDL Cholesterol Level LDL-Cholesterol Category Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal 100-129 mg/dL Near optimal/above optimal 130-159 mg/dL Borderline high 160-189 mg/dL High 190 mg/dL and above Very high HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better. A level less than 40 mg/dL is low and is considered a major risk factor because it increases your risk for developing heart disease. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or more help to lower your risk for heart disease. I would like to thank http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov for this information.

High Cholesterol What Should Your Cholesterol Numbers Be?