Cholesterol: What You Need to Know
Healthy blood cholesterol levels for adults, from Dr. Mahadevan R: HDL good at 50 or higher, LDL good below 130, triglycerides below 200, measured in mg/dL.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. The human body needs cholesterol to make hormones and vitamin D. Cholesterols are of three types:
- Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL), bad cholesterol
- High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL), good cholesterol
- Triglycerides
Maintaining a healthy level of these cholesterols plays an important role in the heart’s health. Everyone aged 20 or above should have his/her cholesterol measured at least once in 5 years.
What is a cholesterol number?
The cholesterol number is a measurement of the number of cholesterol units in the blood. These are the acceptable measurements for adults:
| HDL cholesterol | LDL cholesterol | Triglycerides | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 50 or higher | Less than 130 | Less than 200 |
| Borderline | 40 to 49 | 130 to 159 | 200 to 399 |
| High | Less than 40 | 160 or higher | 400 or higher |
The cholesterol numbers are measured in milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL).
Read this in Malayalam: കൊളസ്ട്രോൾ : നിങ്ങൾ അറിഞ്ഞിരിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യങ്ങൾ
This page is written for general understanding and is not medical advice. It cannot take account of your own history, and a consultation is needed before any diagnosis or treatment. Written by Dr. Mahadevan R, MBBS, MS, MCh (CVTS), Chief Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Magnum Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.