Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know

Original source overview

What is cholesterol?Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much of it in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries and narrow or even block them. This puts you at risk of coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.

How do you measure cholesterol levels?A blood test called a lipoprotein or lipid panel can measure your cholesterol levels. Before the test, you'll usually need to fast (not eat or drink anything but water) for 9 to 12 hours. Follow the instructions your health care provider gives you.

The test gives information about your:

• Total cholesterol. This is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. It includes both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. • LDL cholesterol. LDL is often called "bad" cholesterol because it is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. • HDL cholesterol. HDL is often called "good" cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries. • Non-HDL. This number is your total cholesterol minus your HDL. Your non-HDL includes LDL and other types of cholesterol such as VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein). It gives a better picture of all the "bad" types of cholesterol that can raise your heart risk. • Triglycerides. This is another type of fat in your blood that can raise your risk of heart disease, especially in women.

What do my cholesterol numbers mean?Cholesterol numbers are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Talk with your provider about what your cholesterol numbers should be. The numbers that are best for you may depend on your age, race, blood pressure, weight, family history, and more. However, here are some general guidelines showing the desirable levels (levels that are healthy for most people):

Anyone age 19 or younger:

Type of CholesterolHealthy LevelTotal CholesterolLess than 170 mg/dLNon-HDLLess than 120 mg/dLLDLLess than 110 mg/dLHDLMore than 45mg/dLMen age 20 or older:

Type of CholesterolHealthy LevelTotal CholesterolLess than 200 mg/dLNon-HDLLess than 130 mg/dLLDLLess than 100 mg/dLHDLGreater than or equal to 60 mg/dL is best.Levels less than 40 mg/dL are considered low.Women age 20 or older:

Type of CholesterolHealthy LevelTotal CholesterolLess than 200 mg/dLNon-HDLLess than 130 mg/dLLDLLess than 100 mg/dLHDLGreater than or equal to 60 mg/dL is best.Levels less than 50 mg/dL are considered low.Triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, but they are also measured in this test. A normal triglyceride level is below 150 mg/dL. You might need treatment if you have triglyceride levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more).

What are risk-based LDL goals?If you have heart disease, or your provider thinks you might be at higher risk, they may use your LDL cholesterol level to help you set goals for your LDL cholesterol levels.

Your provider may use a new risk estimator tool called PREVENT, which stands for Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease EVENTs, to guide these goals and estimate your risk of heart disease. It looks at factors like your age, health history, and family history, and puts you in a risk group.

LDL goal by risk level

Risk levelHealthy LDL LevelLow or borderline risk100 mg/dL or belowHigh risk of future heart attack or stroke70 mg/dL or belowAlready have heart disease70 mg/dL or belowAlready have heart disease and are at very high risk55 mg/dL or belowHow often should I get a cholesterol test?When and how often you should get a cholesterol test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:

For people who are age 21 or younger:

• Children should be screened at least once between ages 9 to 11 and again once between ages 17 and 21 • Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high cholesterol,heart attack, orstroke

For people who are ages 21 to 65:

• Younger adults should have the test every 5 years • Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years

For people older than 65:

• They should be tested every year

Additional testing may include:

• A lipoprotein(a) blood test once as an adult, and an apolipoprotein B or "apo B" test if you have certain health conditions. These special blood tests help your provider understand your heart risk. • A coronary calcium scan may be done to help determine if you need cholesterol medicines. This is animaging testwhich checks to see if you have calcium built up in your heart arteries.

What affects my cholesterol levels?Many factors can affect your cholesterol levels. Some of them are things you can change:

• Diet. Saturatedfatand cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level rise. Saturated fat is the main problem, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. Foods that have high levels of saturated fats include red meats, full-fat dairy products, chocolate, some baked goods, and many deep-fried and processed foods. • Weight. Being overweight or havingobesityare risk factors for heart disease. They also tend to increase your cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol and are overweight, it's recommended that you lose at least 5% of your body weight, which would be 10 pounds for a 200-pound person. • Lack of physical activity. Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease. • Smoking.Cigarette smokinglowers your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove cholesterol from your arteries, having a lower HDL level can contribute to a higher cholesterol level.

Some factors that you cannot change can also affect your cholesterol levels, such as

• Age. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. Even though it is less common, younger people, includingchildren and teens, can also have high cholesterol. • Sex. Between ages 20 and 39, men have a greater risk of high total cholesterol than women. But aftermenopause, a woman's risk goes up. This happens because menopause lowers levels of female hormones that may protect against high blood cholesterol. • Family history. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High cholesterol can run in families. • Ethnicity. Your ethnicity may increase your risk of high cholesterol.

How can I lower my cholesterol?You canlower your cholesterolthrough heart-healthy lifestyle changes: They include aheart-healthy eating plan,weight management, andregular physical activity.

If the lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may also need to take medicines. There are several types ofcholesterol-lowering drugsavailable, includingstatins. You may need a statin if you:

• Are age 30 or older and have an LDL cholesterol of 160 mg/dL or higher • Have a strong family history of heart disease

If you take medicines to lower your cholesterol, you still should continue with the lifestyle changes.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Encyclopedic background — Wikipedia

The following selected excerpts provide background on “High cholesterol”. This related background source does not cover every aspect of the specific topic “Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know”; population-specific details and decisions should be checked in the original topic source. They are not a substitute for the source overview or current local clinical guidance. Each excerpt below comes from the fixed Wikipedia revision [W1].

Definition and overview [W1]

High cholesterol, also called Hypercholesterolemia, is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is a form of hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids in the blood), hyperlipoproteinemia (high levels of lipoproteins in the blood), and dyslipidemia (any abnormalities of lipid and lipoprotein levels in the blood).

Elevated levels of non-HDL cholesterol and LDL in the blood may be a consequence of diet, obesity, inherited (genetic) diseases (such as LDL receptor mutations in familial hypercholesterolemia), or the presence of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes and an underactive thyroid.

Cholesterol is one of three major classes of lipids produced and used by all animal cells to form membranes. Plant cells manufacture phytosterols (similar to cholesterol) but in small quantities. Cholesterol is the precursor of the steroid hormones and bile acids. Since cholesterol is insoluble in water, it is transported in the blood plasma within protein particles (lipoproteins). Lipoproteins are classified by their density: very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). All the lipoproteins carry cholesterol, but elevated levels of the lipoproteins other than HDL (termed non-HDL cholesterol), particularly LDL-cholesterol, are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. In contrast, higher HDL cholesterol levels are protective.

Signs and symptoms [W1]

Some types of hypercholesterolemia lead to specific physical findings. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia (Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia) may be associated with xanthelasma palpebrarum (yellowish patches underneath the skin around the eyelids), arcus senilis (white or gray discoloration of the peripheral cornea), and xanthomata (deposition of yellowish cholesterol-rich material) of the tendons, especially of the fingers. Type III hyperlipidemia may be associated with xanthomata of the palms, knees and elbows.

Causes [W1]

Hypercholesterolemia is typically due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors include weight, diet, and stress. Loneliness is also a risk factor.

Classification [W1]

Classically, hypercholesterolemia was categorized by lipoprotein electrophoresis and the Fredrickson classification. Newer methods, such as "lipoprotein subclass analysis", have offered significant improvements in understanding the connection between atherosclerosis progression and clinical consequences. If the hypercholesterolemia is hereditary (familial hypercholesterolemia), more often a family history of premature, earlier onset atherosclerosis is found.

Reading this topic in context

Use “Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know” as a starting point for a focused discussion, rather than treating every statement in the broader encyclopedia article as applying to you. The original source overview and the background excerpts answer different questions: the overview explains the health topic for readers, while the encyclopedia supplies terminology and general context. Keep a record of which questions concern symptoms, a confirmed diagnosis, prevention, or an existing treatment. This helps a healthcare professional address the relevant issue without relying on an internet label.

Questions to take to a professional

1. How should this lipid result be interpreted with my age and medical history?

2. Is a repeat test or a change in my prevention plan appropriate?

Evidence, scope and next steps

The health-topic overview is attributed to MedlinePlus / the National Library of Medicine at the original topic link below. Wikipedia [W1] is a secondary background source; its references can support further reading, but their presence is not evidence that WellPrimer has independently reviewed every study. No clinical review, guideline certification or NLM endorsement is claimed. For screening intervals, diagnostic thresholds, pregnancy or child-specific advice and treatment choices, check current guidance in your country with a qualified professional. Do not start, stop or change a prescribed medicine based on encyclopedia excerpts. New or worsening symptoms need appropriate clinical assessment rather than more reading alone.

Attribution and reuse

[W1] Wikipedia contributors, “High cholesterol”. Version 1365961205, edited 2026-07-25. Retrieved 2026-10-16. Fixed revision: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_cholesterol&oldid=1365961205. Contributor history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_cholesterol&action=history. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ .

The MedlinePlus health-topic summary retains its original attribution. Wikipedia excerpts and the added compilation/commentary are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0; selections, section ordering and editorial reading prompts have been added. No images are reused. This is an educational compilation, not a clinician-reviewed guideline.