Donnalyn,

Thanks for your question. 

Total Cholesterol is broken down by the laboratory into it's main components - LDL (Bad Cholesterol) and HDL (Good Cholesterol).  The higher the LDL, the greater the risk for developing heart and vascular disease.  Triglycerides are another form of fat in the blood.

When it comes to evaluating and treating LDL, your doctor will take other risk factors into consideration.  With no risk factors, a level of 190 is acceptable.  With the addition of one risk factor, this number falls to 160.  With multiple risk factors, such as the problems you describe - overweight, underlying cardiac disease, and hypertension, the level that is considered normal falls to 70.  Your physician is appropriate in being aggressive in the treatment of your LDL level.  I'm sure he's making decisions based on your particular situation and underlying risk factors.  I encourage you to work with him in getting your numbers back on track. 

Best wishes. 

Martin Cane, M.D.