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Healthy Cholesterol Levels 

In order to have your cholesterol level checked, you need to have a blood sample taken. Total blood cholesterol is the most common measurement of blood cholesterol - this is the number you will normally receive as test results

Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The National Cholesterol Education Program developed the following classifications for people over age 20 who do not have heart disease:

  • Desirable blood cholesterol--Total blood cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL; LDL is lower than 130 mg/dL.
  • Borderline high cholesterol--Total level is between 200 and 239 mg/dL or LDL is 130 to 159 mg/dL.
  • High blood cholesterol--Total level is greater than 240 mg/dL or LDL is 160 mg/dL or higher.

If you have heart disease, an LDL level above 100 mg/dL is too high. Additionaly, an HDL level less than 35 mg/dL is considered too low and increases the risk of heart disease.

Another way of measuring cholesterol is by the ratio of LDL to HDL With this measurement you are looking for a ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1 ( sometimes just refered to as a level of 5 or 3.5 etc.).

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