Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Lipoproteins?How Cholesterol Is MeasuredWhy You Should Be TestedUnderstanding Results
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Lipoproteins?
How Cholesterol Is Measured
Why You Should Be Tested
Understanding Results
Total cholesterol represents the combined amount of “bad” cholesterol (low-density, or LDL), “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) in your blood, and 20% of the triglyceride level. The measurement is then compared to your individual HDL result to gauge your risk for heart disease and stroke.
This comparison is telling because it reveals whether LDL, which is the one that can build up in your arteries and cause blockages, is or is not the predominant cholesterol type in your body.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
The HDL and LDL lipoproteins are tiny “packages” in your blood, with fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside, that carry cholesterol throughout your body. You will often see them called the good cholesterol and the bad cholesterol.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
HDL is called the good cholesterol because it helps usher cholesterol out of your arteries.
You hear a lot about keeping your cholesterol low. But in the case of the HDL component of total cholesterol, a high (but not too high) level is good.
The problem is, it can be hard to keep your HDL levels high. That’s because it’s often hard to control lifestyle factors that can lower it, including type 2 diabetes, being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and smoking. Genetic factors can also play a role.
7 Causes of Low HDL Cholesterol Levels
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
This “bad boy” of the cholesterol family needs to be kept at the lowest level you and your healthcare provider can achieve.
Although statin medications can help, your diet matters.
LDL cholesterol goes up if your diet is high in saturated and “trans” fat, also calledtrans-fatty acid.(This is the manufactured fat used to increase food products’ shelf life and flavor stability.)
What Is LDL Cholesterol?
Triglycerides
Triglyceride is the most common type of fat in your body. It’s not cholesterol. But it’s measured because elevated triglyceride levels increase your risk of developingatherosclerosis—a buildup of fatty plaques on artery walls—and increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Triglyceride Levels Explained
How Total Cholesterol Is Measured
This is done using ablood test called alipoprotein panel, which also measures your triglycerides.
Your total cholesterol score is calculated using the equation: HDL level + LDL level + 20% of your triglyceride level.
By itself, high blood cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms. That’s why, if you’re age 20 years or older, you should have your cholesterol tested at least every five years.
Test resultsfor total cholesterol are expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood and raked desirable, borderline high, or high.
Total Cholesterol RangesTotal cholesterol is ranked as follows:Optimal level: Less than 150 mg/dlDesirable level: Less than 200 mg/dLBorderline high level: 200-239 mg/dLHigh level: 240 mg/dL and above
Total Cholesterol Ranges
Total cholesterol is ranked as follows:Optimal level: Less than 150 mg/dlDesirable level: Less than 200 mg/dLBorderline high level: 200-239 mg/dLHigh level: 240 mg/dL and above
Total cholesterol is ranked as follows:
Your total cholesterol level reflects your risk for heart disease. In general, the higher the level, the higher your risk. Why does the test also measure the lipoproteins in your total cholesterol as well as your triglycerides?
If your total cholesterol is too high, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes and/or medications to lower it.
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4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.What your cholesterol levels mean.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood cholesterol: also known as hypercholesterolemia.Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625. Erratum in:Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1182-e1186. Erratum in:Circulation. 2023;148(7):e5.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.What your cholesterol levels mean.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood cholesterol: also known as hypercholesterolemia.Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625. Erratum in:Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1182-e1186. Erratum in:Circulation. 2023;148(7):e5.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.What your cholesterol levels mean.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood cholesterol: also known as hypercholesterolemia.Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625. Erratum in:Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1182-e1186. Erratum in:Circulation. 2023;148(7):e5.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels.
American Heart Association.What your cholesterol levels mean.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood cholesterol: also known as hypercholesterolemia.
Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625. Erratum in:Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1182-e1186. Erratum in:Circulation. 2023;148(7):e5.
MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels.
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