Normal cholesterol level

Uncovered – What Is The Normal Cholesterol Level

Let us face it. We all need cholesterol in the body, and that is why it is made at the liver. The cells we have in the body need cholesterol to make bile and hormones and also to digest food. But it is essential to have cholesterol in the right quantity – too much or too few can cause problems. For example if your cholesterol level is too low it can cause malnutrition, liver diseases, inability to absorb nutrients and you can also suffer from an overactive thyroid gland. It can also cause depression, anxiety and hemorrhagic attacks. High cholesterol level on the other hand can also be disastrous because it can cause heart attack and stroke. This is why it is essential that we maintain a normal cholesterol level.

Usually cholesterol is not a problem for young people, but it begins to become an issue with age. So if you are on the wrong side of 30, it might be a good idea to get your cholesterol level checked. You should also get it checked if you are obese because a high majority of people who cannot diet usually have a cholesterol problem.

What Is The Normal Cholesterol Level?

The normal level of cholesterol is a range that is deemed to be safe. The AHA or the American Heart Association has provided a guideline to determine whether your level of cholesterol is safe or not. It should be mentioned here that every person is different and the constitutions too differ and so what might be normal for one person may not be so for another – much like blood pressure. However even then, the range of normal cholesterol level remains generally true, with possibilities of slight changes.

The level will be determined by HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and the ratio of cholesterol. Whether it is within the range or whether it is on the higher or lower side will be determined with a blood test.

Here Is The Normal Cholesterol Range

1. Your cholesterol count must be below 200 to be judged to be normal. However if you are slightly more within 240, then it is said to be within the borderline. And above that is high cholesterol. Do not worry because there are treatments to bring your level down. To start with, you must eat the right diet because wrong diet is often responsible for high or low cholesterol.
2. LDL is referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’ and it should be below 130. If your LDL is between 160 and 189 then it is adjudged to be high and if you are more than that, then you are at grave risk.
3. Your HDL should be above 40. In fact, the more it is, the better it will be as a high figure means that your arteries are not getting clogged. The best figures are somewhere around 60.
4. Cholesterol is associated with fat and so you have to monitor the level of fat you have in the body. One more fatty substance in the body is Triglycerides – the normal level of this is less than 150. And if you have more than this, then you are at risk of stroke and heart disease. However having said this, there are other factors too that the physician needs to evaluate to announce whether you are at risk or not.

If it is determined that you have normal cholesterol level, then it is great news indeed. But even if you don’t, you really should not get worried. Do remember, with the right treatment and eating habits, you could bring it within the range.