Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese.

What do blood cholesterol numbers mean?

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). When you go to a health care professional to get your cholesterol checked, this test (also called a lipid panel or lipid profile) will usually check the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your body.

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Having high levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease or stroke.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because high levels of it can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy. The combination of high levels of triglycerides with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
• Total cholesterol is the total amount of cholesterol in your blood based on your HDL, LDL, and triglycerides numbers.

What is high cholesterol?

If you are an adult or child, high cholesterol is having total cholesterol above 200 mg/dL.¹ This condition is also called hyperlipidemia.

Millions of people in the United States have high cholesterol. It can cause health problems.

Work with your healthcare team to prevent and manage high cholesterol by working toward optimal cholesterol levels.

Optimal Cholesterol Levels1
Total cholesterol	About 150 mg/dL
LDL (“bad”) cholesterol	About 100 mg/dL
HDL (“good”) cholesterol	At least 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women
Triglycerides	Less than 150 mg/dL

What are the signs and symptoms of high cholesterol?

High blood cholesterol doesn’t have symptoms, which is why getting your cholesterol levels checked is so important.

Knowing your cholesterol status can help you stay in control of your health. Learn about getting your cholesterol checked and why it is important.

What causes high cholesterol?

Certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, can raise your risk for high cholesterol. Lifestyle factors, such as eating a diet high in saturated and trans fats and not getting enough activity, can also raise your risk for high cholesterol. Some people who have a family history of high cholesterol can also be at risk for high cholesterol. All these factors are called “risk factors.”

You can’t control some of these risk factors, such as your age or your family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk for high cholesterol by changing things you can control.

How do I know if I have high cholesterol?

The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked by your healthcare team. Talk with your healthcare team about how often you should have your cholesterol screened. Learn about getting your cholesterol checked and why it is important.

What can I do to prevent or manage high cholesterol?

Strong evidence shows that eating patterns that include less dietary cholesterol is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Learn how to prevent, treat, and manage high cholesterol.