Cholesterol Levels

I will tell you about the details of cholesterol levels. The cholesterol level goals depend on risk factors you have. For healthy adults, they are as follows:

* Total cholesterol: Below 200 mg/dL-desirable; 200-239 mg/dL-Borderline high; 240 mg/dL or above-High.

* LDL: Below 100 mg/dL-Optimal; 100-129 mg/dL-Near or above optimal; 130-159 mg/dL-Borderline high; 160-189 mg/dL-High; 190 mg/dL or above-Very high.

* HDL: Below 40 mg/dL-low; 40-59 mg/dL-Desirable; 60 mg/dL or above-Optimal.

* Trigylceride: Less than 150 mg/dL-Normal; 150-199 mg/dL-Borderline high; 200-499 mg/dL-High; Greater than or equal to 500 mg/dL-Very high.

I will tell you about triglyceride because some people who are interested in health know about LDL and HDL, but don't know about triglyceride. Publication of meta-analysis found that raised triglycerides are in fact an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease.

The risk factors are as follows:

* Cigarette smoking

* Blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg or on anti-hypertension medications

* HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL

* A family history of coronary heart disease before age 55 in a father or brother or age 65 in a mother or sister

* Age above 45 for men and 55 for women

If you have these risk factors, your LDL cholesterol goals will change as the following.

* If you have coronary hear disease(CHD) and CHD equivalents, less than 100 mg/dL.

* If you have multiple(2+) risk factors, less than 130 mg/dL.

* If you have 0-1 risk factor, less than 160 m/dL.

If you can't reach this goal with diet and exercise, you need to take medications.The medications are bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, statins, and fibrates.