When you have a cholesterol test, you’re going to be getting your test results in the form of a cholesterol level chart. If you’re not familiar with this type of chart, you should take the time to understand it, as it is essential in maintaining your overall health and preventing problems such as heart disease.
What Is A Healthy Cholesterol Level Range?
Most likely, your cholesterol level chart is going to have ranges of numbers for your ideal health. This is because they can’t pin down one number that will say that you’re optimally healthy. All bodies are different, but studies have shown that the healthiest people out there have cholesterol levels that fall in a certain range. This is where you want your cholesterol levels to fall.
On your cholesterol level chart, you’re going to find that there are number ranges for normal, near optimal, borderline high and high. This will help you to see if your numbers fall in any of these categories. While you’re working for normal, you may find that you are a little higher than that, so if you are, you may want to consider working to lower your cholesterol.
Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol
Your cholesterol level chart is also going to show the different types of cholesterol in your body, so you should pay attention. The good ‘stuff’ or HDL cholesterol will naturally have a lower number than your LDL cholesterol, but you need to know where you stand with both types of cholesterol.
Numbers on Your Cholesterol Level Chart
After you have identified all the other factors on a cholesterol level chart, you are going to want to find your numbers and see where they compare. Most of the time, you will have some references, but you should know some basics.
- Your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels should be at or below 100. A number of around 99 is absolutely perfect. If you are at 100-120, you’re getting to near optimal and 130-159 is beginning to put you at risk for problems such as heart disease, so you should be working to bring it down.
- Your HDL (good) cholesterol levels should be around 60 to be optimal. If your HDL levels are around 40, then your doctor will recommend that you work to bring your HDL levels up for optimal health.
- Total cholesterol means that you are measuring all the cholesterol, good and bad in your blood. You want to make sure this number is down around 200 or lower for optimal health.
When you know how to read your cholesterol level chart, you can feel confident that you understand what’s going on in your body. Its your body and your health, so its up to you to take control.