Healthy Cholesterol Levels
General guidelines for assessing cholesterol
levels, issued by the American Heart Association (the leading US heart
organization), recommend the following healthy parameters.
Table 1. Total Cholesterol
| Cholesterol Level |
Health Category |
| Less than 200 mg/dL |
Desirable |
| 200-239 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
| 240 mg/dL |
High |
Borderline High Cholesterol Level Without
Additional Risk Factors
If your total cholesterol level is between
200-239 md/dl, you have "borderline-high" blood cholesterol,
with an increased risk for heart disease compared to people with lower
levels. If so, and if you have no other risk factors (eg. family history
of coronary heart disease before the age of 55, elevated blood pressure,
tobacco smoking, diabetes, vascular disease, obesity, male gender), you
should not require specific medical attention. However, you should follow
a cholesterol-lowering diet to normalize your level and thereby reduce
your risk of atherosclerosis.
High Cholesterol Level or Borderline High
With Additional Risk Factors
If you have high total cholesterol or borderline-high
with two other risk factors for coronary heart disease, you need special
medical attention. To begin with, your doctor will measure your low density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level - as LDL levels more accurately reflects
your risk for coronary heart disease than total cholesterol level alone.
LDL levels of 130 mg/dl or greater increase your risk for developing coronary
heart disease. After evaluating your LDL level and assessing your other
risk factors, your doctor will determine an appropriate treatment program
to reduce both your total and LDL cholesterol level.
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