Your LDL levels should be around 100 mg/dL. This range helps put you at a low risk of heart disease. Less than 120 mg/dL total cholesterol or an LDL level less than 50 mg/dL is very low.
If your current non-HDL level is not known, then the guideline is to aim for below 2.5mmol/L (or LDL cholesterol below 1.8mmol/L).
There is no consensus on how to define very low LDL cholesterol, but LDL would be considered very low if it is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Although the risks are rare, very low levels of LDL cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of: Cancer. Hemorrhagic stroke.
Your LDL cholesterol number is: Optimal if it is less than 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) Near optimal/above optimal if it is 2.6 – 3.3 mmol/L (100-129 mg/dL) Borderline high if it is 3.4 – 4.1 mmol/L (130-159 mg/dL)
– your total cholesterol level should be below 4 mmol/l – your bad LDL cholesterol level should be below 2 mmol/l – your good HDL cholesterol level should be above 1 mmol/l. If your total cholesterol level is over 4 and your LDL is over 2, this shows that you might be at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The optimal cholesterol ratio is between 3.5 and 1, while a ratio of 5 or below is considered normal. 4 A cholesterol ratio within the normal range means that your cholesterol levels are likely not contributing to cardiac risk.
According to Michos, an ideal LDL cholesterol level should be less than 70 mg/dl, and a woman's HDL cholesterol level ideally should be close to 50 mg/dl. Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dl. As Michos notes, total cholesterol levels well below 200 mg/dl are best.
After having their cholesterol tested, seniors should be given a number between 190 and 260. Healthy seniors should keep their total cholesterol below 200 and their LDL cholesterol around 100. If your elderly loved one's LDL cholesterol level is above 160, he or she must start making sweeping lifestyle changes.
Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels can increase your heart risk. Having a low level of this "good" cholesterol is a concern, just as having high levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can have negative effects on your heart health.
Normal cholesterol range in Australia
As a guide, health authorities recommend cholesterol levels should be no higher than 5.5 mmol per litre if there are no other risk factors present, or LDL levels less than 2 mmol/l for those who smoke, have high blood pressure or pre-existing heart disease.
The guidelines for healthy cholesterol levels are as follows: total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL. LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol above 40 mg/dL.
Your HDL (“good” cholesterol) is the one number you want to be high (ideally above 60). Your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be below 100. Your total should be below 200. Talk with your provider about what your results mean for you and how to manage your cholesterol.
Types of Cholesterol
Levels of LDL cholesterol higher than 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are linked to an increased risk for ischemic stroke.
A normal total cholesterol level for adults without heart disease is less than 200 mg/dL.
It's best to keep your total cholesterol level below 200. Women of any age should have an HDL level of 40 or higher. If you already have heart disease or diabetes, or your doctor estimates that your 10-year risk of heart disease is 20 percent or higher, try to keep your LDL level below 100.
Between the ages of 55 and 64, those levels average 240 mg/dL. Total cholesterol levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL are considered borderline high, meaning you have a "borderline-high" risk of developing heart disease. Levels of 240 mg/dL and above put you in the high-risk category for developing heart disease.
Healthy cholesterol levels for seniors are below 200 mg/dl (total cholesterol), including an HDL (good) cholesterol level of more than 40 mg/dl for men, 50mg/dl for women, and an LDL (bad) cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dl.
If you have risk factors for heart disease, you should not consume more than 200 milligrams of cholesterol a day. If you do not have risk factors for heart disease, you should limit your cholesterol intake to no more than 300 milligrams a day.
Here are the ranges for total cholesterol in adults: Normal: Less than 200 mg/dL. Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL. High: At or above 240 mg/dL.
Total cholesterol levels should be lower than 5.5 mmol/L, if you have no other risk factors. If you have cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, pre-existing cardiovascular (heart) disease or diabetes, or you smoke, the aim for LDL cholesterol levels would be less than 2 mmol/L.
Exercise can improve cholesterol. Moderate physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. With your doctor's OK, work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week or vigorous aerobic activity for 20 minutes three times a week.
In general: The higher the ratio, the higher the risk. Most healthcare providers want the ratio to be below 5:1. A ratio below 3.5:1 is considered very good.