Normal Cholesterol Levels

Normal cholesterol levels are important for our health and minimsation of possible heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

Cholesterol is carried in the blood by two types of protein:

  • low density lipoproteins (LDL) which carry three-quarters of the cholesterol, and

  • high density lipoproteins (HDL).

When people undergo a blood test, total blood cholesterol is measured, and separate measurements are taken of LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol.

High LDL and total cholesterol levels increase the risk of a heart attack, as does a low level of HDL.

What do the numbers mean?

Total cholesterol is the sum of three main factors. Theses are:

  1. LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol (bad kind),

  2. HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol (good kind)

  3. blood triglycerides.

Normal cholesterol levels are:

  • Healthy total cholesterol under 200mg/dL with 180 mg/dL being optimal.

  • LDL cholesterol should be under 100 mg/dL

  • HDL should be over 40 mg/dL and blood triglyceride levels under 150 mg/dL.

When is cholesterol considered too high?

When total cholesterol is over 240mg/dL with LDL levels over 160 mg/dL, HDL levels under 40 mg/dL and blood triglycerides 200 mg/dL you are at risk.

If any of these are way above the normal range, the doctor will make some recommendations before it is too late. The most common advice given is to make changes in the diet. This is because the numbers that come out can improve dramatically by changing the food being eaten.

 

 

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