Knowing your cholesterol levels means nothing if you don’t know what they should be. Although normal cholesterol levels can vary by gender, weight, and age, there are some general ranges to be aware of.
Why cholesterol matters
Ideally, you want to keep “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol levels low to help decreases your chances of developing a heart-related problem, such as a stroke or heart attack. But “good” cholesterol (HDL) can help ward off these health risks.
Cholesterol levels in adult males
For the most part, adult males tend to have higher cholesterol levels than children or women throughout their lives and it generally increases with age. Your goal should be to prevent high cholesterol levels as early as possible because unmanaged cholesterol is more difficult to treat. So, what levels should you aim for?
- Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL. Anything about 240 mg/dL is considered too high.
- Bad cholesterol (LDL) should be less than 100 mg/dL. If you don’t have any health problems, it’s acceptable to be as high as 129 mg/dL.
- Good cholesterol (HDL) should be high, not low. Ideally, you want your good cholesterol to be at least 60 mg/dL. Anything under 40 mg/dL is considered a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Preventing and treating high cholesterol
Although diet and exercise offer some of the best preventative measures, there are some drug treatment options if you have high cholesterol. Cholesterol-lowering drugs include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids (lower triglycerides and raise good cholesterol levels)
- Statins (block the liver from making cholesterol)
- Bile acid sequestrants (decrease fat absorption from food)
- Vitamins and supplements (e.g., Niacin) (lower triglycerides and prevent the liver from removing good cholesterol)
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors (decrease cholesterol absorption from food and lower triglycerides)
If you haven’t had your cholesterol checked in the last 4 years or so, call today to make an appointment with your doctor.
