Cholesterol Control: Use A Cholesterol Chart To Evaluate Your Health Risks

Most adults have had their cholesterol levels checked at least once. The results of this simple blood test must be checked against several different cholesterol charts to determine what, if any, steps are necessary to correct readings that are not ideal.

What Does Each Cholesterol Chart Evaluate?

There are four major cholesterol charts used to classify the levels of different types of cholesterol found in your blood. The first chart breaks down total cholesterol into three levels. Blood levels of less than 200mg/dl are considered to be normal, levels of 200-239 mg/dl are considered borderline high and levels of 240 mg/dl or higher are considered high.

The next cholesterol chart deals with bad or LDL cholesterol levels. On this chart there are four levels. LDL cholesterol levels of less than 100 mg/dl are considered normal, levels of 100-129 mg/dl are considered to be near optimal, levels of 130-159 mg/dl are considered borderline high and levels of 160 mg/dl or higher care considered high.