Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of the body. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and cause blood clots. Cholesterol can clog your arteries and keep your heart from getting the blood it needs. This can cause a heart attack.

There are two types of cholesterol:

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is often called the “bad” type of cholesterol because it can clog the arteries that carry blood to your heart. For LDL, lower numbers are better.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as “good” cholesterol because it takes the bad cholesterol out of your blood and keeps it from building up in your arteries. For HDL, higher numbers are better.

What do my cholesterol and triglyceride numbers mean?

Total cholesterol level -

• Less than 200 mg/dL is best.
• If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL then that’s desirable
• If your total cholesterol is 200 - 239 mg/dL then it’s borderline high
• If your total cholesterol is 240 mg/dL and above then it’s high

LDL (bad) cholesterol -

• Less than 100 mg/dL is best.
• 100-129 mg/dL then it’s near optimal/above optimal
• 130-159 mg/dL then it’s borderline high
• 160-189 mg/dL then it’s high
• 190 mg/dL and above then it’s very high

• HDL (good) cholesterol - Higher is better. More than 60 mg/dL is best.
• Triglyceride levels - Lower is better. Less than 150mg/dL is best.