Cholesterol levels - Balance Clinic

What is cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two types:

• LDL cholesterol - the "bad" cholesterol that can build up in your arteries
• HDL cholesterol - the "good" cholesterol that helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries

When you get your cholesterol tested, you get levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Healthy cholesterol levels

The recommended cholesterol levels are:

• Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dL
• HDL cholesterol: 60 mg/dL or higher
• Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

Having high cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death.

You can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels by:

• Eating a diet low in saturated and trans fats
• Exercising for 30 minutes most days
• Not smoking
• Maintaining a healthy weight

Our bodies make all the cholesterol we need, so we don't have to consume foods high in cholesterol.

Key things to know

Here are some key points about cholesterol:

• Having high LDL or low HDL increases heart disease risk
• Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can improve cholesterol
• If levels don't improve, cholesterol medicines may be needed
• Getting tested is the only way to know your cholesterol numbers

Keeping cholesterol in check is important at every age to protect long-term health. Work with your doctor to set cholesterol goals that are right for your health status and risk factors.