Decoding Your Cholesterol Readings

Taking cholesterol readings has become a normal part of most physical checkups these days. That's because your cholesterol readings are an overall good indicator of the odds of you developing coronary heart disease or hardening of the arteries (Atherosclerosis).

What Is The Normal Cholesterol Range?

In general, your cholesterol readings are a measurement of the total amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. This total cholesterol value consists of both your low density lipoprotein (or LDL) and your high density lipoprotein (or HDL) types of cholesterol. Of course, the perfect level of cholesterol that is good for you varies, because we are all individuals. But, there are some guidelines. A cholesterol reading of 200 mg/dl or less is considered excellent. A range of 201 to 239 mg/dl is considered high, but manageable. And, a reading of 240 mg/dl or over is considered to be high.

So, you want your reading to be low. And, the higher this reading is, the more at risk you are for arterial diseases. For example, if your cholesterol readings show that you are in the 240 mg/dl or above levels, you have approximately twice the risk of developing atherosclerosis as someone with a reading of 190 mg/dl.

Testing For Cholesterol Normal Range

Total cholesterol readings, however, are not as accurate as individual readings. And, if possible, choose to have a test that will show both your LDL reading and your HDL reading. This will give you a more accurate view of your health as regards to cholesterol.

Of particular importance is the reading of your low density lipoprotein (or LDL) which many refer to as 'bad cholesterol'. Because you want to have low LDL readings. And you want to have high HDL readings. In other words, if you have high a HDL reading (which is good), but you also have a high LDL reading, which is bad, you should work on lowering your LDL.

If you are a man, you want you HDL to be at least 40 mg/dl. If you are a woman, you want them to be a little bit higher, probably above 50 mg/dl. With your LDL, you want it to be less than 129 mg/dl. If you can get it less than 100, that 's even better.

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