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Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the bloodstream. High triglyceride levels are often found in people who have diabetes and heart disease.
Triglyceride Level
Less than 150 mg/dl
150-199mg/dl
200-499 mg/dl
500 mg/dl and above
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Category
Normal
Borderline High
High
Very High
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Total Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in the lipids (fats) in your bloodstream. Cholesterol is part of a normal body because it is found in cell membranes, hormones and other tissues. But high levels are a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and heart attack.
Total Cholesterol Level
Less than 200 mg/dl
200 - 239 mg/dl
240 mg/dl and above
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Category
Desirable
Borderline High
High Blood Cholesterol. A person with this level is twice as likely to have a heart attack as someone whose level is below 200 mg/dl. |
HDL Cholesterol
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known as "good" cholesterol because medical experts think that it tends to carry cholesterol out of the arteries to the liver where it is passed from the body. The higher the level of HDL cholesterol the better.
HDL Cholesterol Level
Less than 30 mg/dl
40-59 mg/dl
60 mg/dl and above
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Category
Low HDL cholesterol
The higher your HDL level, the better
High HDL cholesterol. A level of 60mg/dl and above is considered to be added protection against heart disease.
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LDL Cholesterol
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol also known as "bad" cholesterol together with other substances can create plaque, a thick hard substance that can clog the arteries. If a clot forms in the region of a plaque deposit and blocks the flow of blood to the heart, a heart attack can result. When a clot blocks the flow of blood to a part of the brain, a stroke is the result. The lower your LDL the better.
LDL Cholesterol Level
Less than 100 mg/dl
100 - 129 mg/dl
130 - 159 mg/dl
160 - 189 mg/dl
190 mg/dl and above
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Category
Optimal
Near or above optimal
Borderline High
High
Very High
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Cholesterol Ratio
The American Heart Association recommends using the absolute numbers for total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels.
Some physicians and cholesterol technicians prefer to use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol instead of the total blood cholesterol.
The ratio can be determined by dividing the HDL level into the total cholesterol. A person who has total cholesterol of 200mg/dl and a HDL level of 50mg/dl would have a ratio of 4:1. The optimum ration is 3.5:1 and a ratio below 5:1 is considered to be the goal.
Source: American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)
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