What should ldl and hdl numbers be

This is particularly true when it comes to high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fatty substance your liver makes. Your body needs some cholesterol to function properly. But having too much of the bad type of cholesterol — low-density lipoprotein LDL — puts you at risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Click here to learn more. Your total cholesterol level is the overall amount of cholesterol found in your blood.

It consists of:. The higher your HDL, the better. Total cholesterol also includes a triglyceride count. The American Heart Association recommends that all adults have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years, starting at age 20, which is when cholesterol levels can start to rise.

As we age, cholesterol levels tend to climb. Men are generally at a higher risk than women for higher cholesterol.

For those with high cholesterol and other cardiac risk factors, such as diabetes, more frequent testing is recommended. According to the guidelines on the management of blood cholesterol published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology JACC , these are the acceptable, borderline, and high measurements for adults. Back to High cholesterol.

You might be able to get separate results for your good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Published: August 12, Which number should be high; which should be low? It can be confusing. LDL low-density lipoprotein is one of two lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in your blood. Lower LDL is desirable. Higher HDL is desirable. The value of HDL is that it:. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC offers the following guidelines to help people understand the results of their cholesterol test:.

A heart-healthy lifestyle is at the core of treating high cholesterol and lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease. Think of total cholesterol as a first glimpse, a peek. Doctors are not supposed to make any treatment decisions based on this number alone. Cholesterol levels can be lowered by stress physical or psychological or infection.

An injury, cancer, stroke , or heart attack may have the same effect. So, if your cholesterol levels are unusually high or low, your doctor will probably want to repeat the test some weeks later. Abnormal readings may also lead to tests for other medical problems. HDL cholesterol.

HDL wins its laurels as the "good" cholesterol because it sponges up cholesterol from blood vessel walls and ferries it to the liver for disposal. In contrast, LDL deposits the harmful fat in vessel walls. An HDL level of 60 or above is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, and below 40 is associated with a higher risk.

LDL cholesterol. The LDL measurement is usually considered the most important for assessing risk and deciding on treatment. The definition of a healthy level keeps on getting lower. For people at low risk of heart disease, an LDL of less than is desirable, However, people at higher risk of heart disease, an LDL of less than 70 or perhaps even lower is considered "optimal. LDL can also be measured directly in a non-fasting blood sample.