Total cholesterol
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Total cholesterol
Total cholesterol is the sum of all cholesterol measured in a person's blood. This total includes high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is sometimes called the “good cholesterol,” and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, sometimes called the “bad cholesterol.”
Cholesterol is measured either in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or in millimoles per liter of blood (mmol/L).
- A total cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L) is desirable.
- 200 to 239 mg/dL (5.17 to 6.18 mmol/L) is considered borderline high cholesterol.
- 240 mg/dL (6.21 mmol/L) or higher is considered high cholesterol.
The ratio of total cholesterol to “good” (HDL) cholesterol is also important, especially if total cholesterol is high.
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 25, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman |
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