Cholesterol, What does it mean?

Total Cholesterol, What Is It?
The sum of "good" HDLs, "bad" LDLs, and one-fifth of your triglycerides (another blood fat).

What Do Your Total Cholesterol Numbers Mean?
Desirable: under 200 mg/dL Borderline: 200-239 mg/dLHigh risk: 240 mg/dL and above.

LDL Cholesterol What Is It?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. At high levels, LDLs can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain. It helps form hard, thick plaque deposits--build-ups that can sometimes bulge out into the bloodstream, but that often cause no trouble for years or decades.

The danger: Plaque can rupture suddenly, releasing chemicals into the blood that cause clots. If a clot lodges in the heart, it can block blood flow, cause a heart attack, and kill vital heart muscle. Lodged in the brain, it can cause a stroke that kills brain cells. Aim for low LDLs.

What Do Your LDL Numbers Mean?
Optimal: less than 100 mg/dL Near optimal: 100-129 mg/dLBorderline: 130-159 mg/dL
High: 160-190 mg/dLVery high: greater than 190

HDL Cholesterol. What Is It?
HDLs are called "good" cholesterol because at high levels, HDLs seem to protect against heart attack. Heart experts suspect HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. HDLs may even remove excess cholesterol from plaques, slowing their growth. High HDLS are good.

What Do Your HDL Numbers Mean?Desirable, for women: 50 mg/dL or higher.
Desirable, for men: 40 mg/dL or higher.
Triglycerides. What About Triglycerides?
Cholesterol tests also reveal levels of triglycerides--another blood fat that can raise heart and stroke risk. High blood triglyceride can raise heart and stroke risk, and may be accompanied by other heart risks, such as low HDLs, high LDLs, and early warning signs for diabetes. So high triglycerides may be a sign of a lipoprotein problem that contributes to heart disease.

What Do Your Triglyceride Numbers Mean?
Aim for triglycerides under 150 mg/dL, and under 100 mg/dL if you've already had a heart attack.