Tracking health numbers
Tracking your cholesterol numbers
How do your cholesterol numbers stack up? Below are the latest optimal levels for cholesterol. These levels are associated with lower risk for health problems.
These standards are based on research with thousands of patients. As a group, people whose cholesterol was within the target levels had lower rates of cardiovascular events than those with high cholesterol. Other risk factors, like blood pressure and weight, matter too. The more risk factors you keep at goal levels, the lower your risk.
A handy tool can help you track your progress towards your cholesterol goals.
NCEP classifications of LDL, Total, and HDL Cholesterol, and Triglycerides1
| Total Cholesterol | |
|---|---|
| Less than 200 | Desirable |
| 200-239 | Borderline high |
| 240 and above | High |
| LDL Cholesterol | |
| Less than 100 | Optimal |
| 100-129 | Near optimal/above optimal |
| 130-159 | Borderline high |
| 160-189 | High |
| 190 and above | Very high |
| HDL Cholesterol | |
| Less than 40 (men) | Low |
| Less than 50 (women) | Low |
| 60 and above | Optimal |
| Triglyceride level | |
| Less than 150 | Normal |
| 150-199 | Borderline high |
| 200-499 | High |
| 500 and above | Very high |
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Reference
- American Heart Association. Cholesterol-lowering drugs. Dallas: TX. Available online at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4500
