Patient Education Caring For Your Heart Booklet | Page 26

For Men
Triglyceride blood level
Level
Means
150 mg/dL or lower Good
151 to 400 mg/dL
Borderline
401 to 1000 mg/dL High
Higher than 1000
Very high
HDL blood cholesterol level
Level
Means
40-50 mg/dL
Good level
or higher
39 mg/dL or lower Too low
Your blood cholesterol level is made
up of cholesterol formed by your body
and cholesterol you get from food you
eat. Some people tend to produce more
cholesterol in their body. Here are some
suggestions for things you can do to help
lower your cholesterol:
For Women
HDL blood cholesterol level
Level
Means
50-60 mg/dL
Good level
or higher
49 mg/dL or lower Too low
1. See your doctor and have your
cholesterol checked regularly. Have
your doctor or nurse explain the
results to you. If you have heart
disease, your recommended levels
may be different from those of people
who don’t have heart disease.
Remember that this is the “good”
cholesterol. The higher the number, the
better.
LDL blood cholesterol level
Level
Means
70 mg/dL or lower Target for people
with heart disease
Less than
Good
100 mg/dL
100 to 129 mg/dL
Above optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL
Borderline high
160 to 189 mg/dL
High
190 mg/dL or
Very high
higher
2. Medications called statins are usually
prescribed to treat cholesterol
levels for people with heart disease.
Although diet and exercise can help
improve cholesterol levels, for most
people they are not enough. Take
your medication as prescribed and do
not stop taking it without fi rst talking
with your doctor.
3. Read pages 30-39 for information
about diet changes to help lower your
cholesterol levels.
This is the “bad” cholesterol. The lower
the number, the better.
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