What Do the Numbers Mean?

Total cholesterol is the most common measurement of blood cholesterol. It is the number you normally receive as a test result, an important first step in determining your risk for heart disease. However, a critical second step is having a blood test called a "lipoprotein profile," which gives information about LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as total cholesterol. Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. See the chart below to determine your cholesterol category.

LDL, or bad cholesterol, is a better indicator of the potential risk of a heart attack than total blood cholesterol. The lower your LDL level, the lower your risk. Low HDL, or good cholesterol, can also put you at high risk for heart disease. In general, men have lower HDL levels. Most men have HDL levels in the range of 40 to 50 mg /dL, and most women in
the range of 50 to 60mg/dL. Smoking, being overweight, and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. You can help raise HDL levels by not smoking, by losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, and by being physically active. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol is sometimes used in place of total blood cholesterol. The ratio is obtained by dividing into the total cholesterol by the HDL cholesterol level. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1, and optimally at 3.5:1.

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