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High Cholesterol - Exams and Tests
You will need a blood test to check whether you have high cholesterol.
- A total cholesterol test measures whether your cholesterol is high or low. You can have this test done at any time, even if you recently had a meal or snack.
- A lipoprotein analysis is a more thorough test. It measures your total cholesterol as well as your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels. It is called a fasting test because you are not supposed to eat for 9 to 12 hours before having your blood drawn.
- A direct LDL test measures your LDL level only. You can have this test done at any time, even if you recently had a meal or snack.
Your total cholesterol level is important but the levels of your lipoproteins, including LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, help your doctor make decisions about whether you need treatment for high cholesterol. Your doctor will also take into account your overall health and your risk of heart attack.
The following tables will help you understand the results of your cholesterol tests. All numbers are milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), but most people just say the numbers.
Total cholesterol
Your total cholesterol level shows if your cholesterol is high or low. If you have high cholesterol, your doctor will want to know your LDL and HDL levels before deciding whether you need treatment and what sort of treatment you need.
| Best | Less than 200 |
| Borderline high | 200 to 239 |
| High | 240 or above |
LDL cholesterol
You want your LDL level to be low. But how low your LDL should be depends on your risk of heart attack. This table shows the LDL levels for someone with an average risk of heart attack. Your own LDL goal may change, based on your risk of heart attack. This risk is based on your age and on whether you smoke, have high blood pressure, have a low HDL level, have diabetes, or have one or more close relatives who have or had early coronary artery disease.
| Best | Below 100 |
| Near best | 100 to 129 |
| Borderline high | 130 to 159 |
| High | 160 to 189 |
| Very high | 190 and above |
Your doctor will help decide what your LDL goal is and if you need any treatment to lower your LDL. The higher your risk of heart attack, the lower your LDL goal.
HDL cholesterol
You want your HDL level high. HDL (good) cholesterol goals are different for men and women. But for everyone, the higher your HDL, the better. HDL over 60 helps protect against a heart attack. HDL below 40 increases your risk of heart problems. A high HDL number can help offset a high LDL number.
| Best | 60 or higher protects against heart disease |
| Good | 40 or higher |
| Bad | Below 40 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
High Cholesterol Topics
Research shows high cholesterol can lead to strokes for women in their 50's and even younger.
