What cholesterol numbers are ideal?
Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL is considered desirable, above 240 mg/dL is high. • If you are in a very high risk group for heart disease, your LDL should be below 70 mg/dL; for those at general risk of heart disease, your LDL should be below 100 mg/dL; for those not in a risk category, ideal LDL is between 100 – 129 mg/dL. • Best HDL cholesterol levels are those above 60 mg/dL; poor levels for women are those below 50 mg/dL and for men below 40 mg/dL. • Desirable Triglyceride levels are below 150 mg/dL. Can my cholesterol be too low? Yes – a cholesterol level under 160 mg/dL has been associated with a greater risk for cancer, anxiety, depression and premature births. How do I know if my cholesterol is high? Typically a blood test – lipid panel – is the best indicator of your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and Triglyceride levels. In some cases, cholesterol can show up as fatty deposits under the skin. These deposits, called xanthomas, appear as reddish-yellow b
