How’s your LDL, your HDL and your total? Tracking your cholesterol can be confusing, but it’s very, very important. We all have cholesterol—our bodies produce it and need it. But too much of it puts us at risk of heart attack and stroke, so have your cholesterol levels checked periodically.
You can't test for cholesterol yourself, but testing requires only a small blood sample, usually drawn by pricking your thumb or finger.
A good total number (a measure of the quantity in your blood) would be under 200. A reading between that and 239 puts you in a worrisome zone. Anything 240 or above is definitely high.
There is one cholesterol number you want high. Your HDL ("good") cholesterol should measure 35 or above; anything under that signals "risk factor."
And finally, you’d also like the LDL's ("bad") cholesterol to be under 130; 160 and above is high. You want triglycerides to be low, too. A reading under 200 is normal.
The good news is that your cholesterol levels can be managed with diet, exercise and, if needed, medication. What matters most is that you have it checked.