Cholesterol, Part One: A Patient Guide

HDL cholesterol protects against heart disease. This means that higher numbers of HDL cholesterol are better. A level less than 40 mg/dL is considered low and a major risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or more help to lower your risk for heart disease.

Triglycerides also can raise heart disease risk. Triglycerides are made in the liver and are also found in most oils, such as corn oil or the oil in margarine.

Levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may require treatment for some people.

The NHLBI classification of the optimal level of LDL cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dL. Borderline high is 130-159 mg/dL, and very high is 190 mg/dL and above. High LDL cholesterol always requires attention. Your chance of developing coronary artery disease increases if you also have one or more other heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or an early family history of heart disease.

The following table shows the NHLBI's classification of all cholesterol levels.

Classification of LDL and HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides

Cautions about measuring cholesterol levels

To get accurate results, you should not eat or drink anything for 9 to 14 hours before the test.

Your health care provider may tell you to stop taking drugs that can affect the test. Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Drugs that may increase total cholesterol measurements include:

• ACTH
• Anabolic steroids
• Beta-adrenergic blocking agents
• Corticosteroids
• Epinephrine
• Birth control pills
• Phenytoin
• Sulfonamides
• Thiazide diuretics
• Vitamin D