What do the Cholesterol Numbers mean?

Written by Gloria Tsang, RD
last updated: November 2004

To have a complete picture of your blood cholesterol levels, your doctor likely will order a complete blood cholesterol profile test:

• Total Cholesterol
• LDL Cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
• HDL Cholesterol (good cholesterol)
• Blood Triglycerides

If you are 20 or older, you should check your cholesterol level at least once every 5 years as a regular check-up. It's desirable to have your cholesterol numbers within the desirable range. Levels in between are considered borderline high.

Message: To treat high blood cholesterol, the National Cholesterol Education Program NCEP now recommends the TLC diet. In any case, your doctor may prescribe medications immediately if the LDL cholesterol level is over 160 mg/dL or 4.1 mmol/L. Further Reading High Cholesterol Diet	Find out if the Heart Smart Diet is right for you. Try a free diet profile now! Advertisement