Do you understand Your Cholesterol Level? Your doctor has told you that you need to lower your cholesterol to live a healthier life. The blood tests you had done show that your total cholesterol level is over 200. But what does that mean, and how can you lower your cholesterol? First of all, cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance made by your body, and cholesterol is derived from your food. Most lab results will tell you where your blood is within a specific desirable range. These lab tests look at five different components: Cholesterol This is the total cholesterol. Levels above 200 are considered elevated. A good cholesterol level is 175 mg/dL or less. Triglycerides These are the lipids in the blood. They are elevated after a high-fat meal and require a fasting test to be accurate. The desired range is 30-175 mg/dL. HDL This is good cholesterol. The higher the level, the better. The average value for adult women is 55 mg/dl. LDL This is the low-density lipoprotei...
