Normal Cholesterol Levels

Normal Levels for HDL Cholesterol

A normal cholesterol level for HDL is one above 40 mg/dL. For HDL levels, the higher the numbers, the better. In fact, HDL levels above 60 mg/dL are thought to protect against heart disease.
 

What Do Triglycerides Have to Do With Normal Cholesterol Levels?

Triglycerides are not actually cholesterol, but a form of fat carried through the bloodstream. Most of your body's fat is in the form of triglycerides stored in fat tissue. Only a small portion of the triglycerides in the body are found in the bloodstream.
 
Normal levels for triglycerides are less than 150 mg/dL.
 

Quick Reference Chart

See the following table for a quick breakdown of what cholesterol levels are "normal."
 
Cholesterol Type
Healthy Level
Total cholesterol
Less than 200 mg/dL
Less than 100 mg/dL, but will depend on the number of risk factors
HDL
Greater than 40 mg/dL, but the higher the better
Triglycerides
Less than 150 mg/dL
  
(Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams [mg] of cholesterol per deciliter [dL] of blood.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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