Is my Cholesterol anything to worry about?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for reaching out to our community.

Your physician, who knows you, your medical history and has done a physical examination, told you that your lab results were within normal limit. I am not a physician. I will gladly provide you with general information. I think you will find this information supports your physician's statement.

Total cholesterol–a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

LDL (bad) cholesterol–the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries

HDL (good) cholesterol–HDL helps remove cholesterol from your arteries

Triglycerides–another form of fat in your blood that can raise your risk for heart disease

A total cholesterol level of 200- 239 mg/dL is borderline high
LDL level less than 100 mg/dL is optimal
HDL level of 60 mg/dl or higher is considered protective against heart disease

Triglycerides are the end product of digesting and breaking down fats in food. Some are made in the body from other energy sources, such as carbohydrates. When you’re between meals and need more energy, your body’s hormones release them so you tap those unused calories.

Normal range is less than 150 mg/dL

Some researchers believe that measuring your non-HDL cholesterol levels gives a better assessment of the risk for heart disease than measuring only LDL. This is especially true if you have high triglycerides. Your non-HDL cholesterol level is found by subtracting your HDL cholesterol from your total cholesterol.