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?
There are different kinds of cholesterol. Each kind has a different effect on the body. Below are the target numbers for total cholesterol and for other types of cholesterol. It is measured in milligrams per decaliter (mg/dL

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

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

Triglycerides
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

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.