Cholesterol types

Many people have too much of a fat called cholesterol in their blood. If you have high cholesterol, you have a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. You can reduce your cholesterol with diet, exercise and, for some people, medicine.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat. There are different kinds of cholesterol, some your body makes and some that come from foods like meat, seafood, eggs and milk. Each kind has a different effect on the body.

The only way to know how much of each type of cholesterol you have is with a simple blood test. Ask your doctor to order the test and to explain the different numbers to you when he or she gets the results.  Below are the target numbers for total cholesterol and for other types of cholesterol, measured in milligrams per decaliter (mg/dL).

Total cholesterol levels

(TC) includes HDL, LDL, and other types of cholesterol.

• Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
• Borderline high risk: 200-239 mg/dL
• High risk: 240 mg/dL and above

LDL cholesterol levels

LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. Think L is for "loser," since LDL is "bad" cholesterol. It blocks arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

• Optimal (high risk patients): Less than 70 mg/dL
• Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL
• Above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
• Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL
• High: 160-189 mg/dL
• Very high: 190 mg/dL

HDL cholesterol levels

HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. Think H is for "happy," since HDL is "good" cholesterol. It helps remove fat deposits from arteries. Desirable levels are:

• Greater than 45 mg/dL for men
• Greater than 55 mg/dL for women

Triglycerides and tryglyceride levels

Triglycerides are another kind of fat in the blood. These fats increase the chance of having a heart attack or stroke if the level in your blood is too high.

• Normal: less than 150 mg/dL
• Borderline high: 150-199 mg/dL
• High: 200-499 mg/dL
• Very High: 500 mg/dL