Total Cholesterol Level
Welcome to our guide on your total cholesterol level test result, which will help you better understand what your total cholesterol level means. You will need your result to begin. If you don't know your total cholesterol level, contact your doctor's office to find out. Then come back here!
Your total cholesterol reflects the sum of three types of fats that circulate in the blood:
- LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol
- Triglycerides
Many years ago, total cholesterol level was used to help determine a person's risk of heart attack and other health problems that are caused by heart disease.
Today, it's known that blood levels of the specific types of fats provide a more accurate picture of a person's risk for heart disease.
If your doctor told you to fast before you got your cholesterol test, it's most likely the test checked for the level of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
What is your total cholesterol blood level?
My total cholesterol is 135 mg/dL or less.
My total cholesterol is between 136 and 199 mg/dL.
My total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 mg/dL.
Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © August 2010 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.