Overview When you have your cholesterol checked at a doctor's office, lab personnel will measure your "total cholesterol" with a blood test called the fasting lipid panel. A fasting lipid panel measures the three types of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and combines those three measures into a value called "total cholesterol." LDL Cholesterol A high level of LDL cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol, increases your risk of heart attacks and stroke. The American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) define "very high" LDL cholesterol as above 190 mg/dL, "high" as 160 to 189 mg/dL, "borderline high" as 130 to 159 mg/dL, "above optimal" LDL cholesterol as 100 to 129 mg/dL and "optimal" as less than 100 mg/dL. LDL Goals The recommended level for your LDL cholesterol depends on your other heart health risk factors. The AHA, ACC and NIH define LDL goals as lower than 160 mg/dL in people with no other risk factors, lower than 130 mg/dL for people with two or more risk factors--including age, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity or family history) and lower than 100 mg/dL for people with diabetes or known heart disease. The Heart Protection Study found that a goal LDL lower than 70 mg/dL for people with diabetes or a previous heart attack may reduce risk of heart disease even further. HDL Cholesterol People with high HDL cholesterol levels, also known as "good" cholesterol, have decreased risk for heart disease and stroke. The AHA, ACC and NIH define goal HDL as equal to or greater than 60 mg/dL. If you have very high HDL levels and very low LDL levels, your health care provider will likely deem your cholesterol profile healthy even with a high total cholesterol number. Triglycerides Your body converts triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream, into cholesterol molecules, so high triglyceride levels increase your risk for heart disease. The AHA, ACC and NIH define the normal goal for triglyceride levels as lower than 150 mg/dL. They consider triglyceride levels 150 to 199 mg/dL "borderline high," triglyceride levels 200 to 499 mg/dL as "high" and triglyceride levels greater than 500 mg/dL as "very high." Total Cholesterol The laboratory calculates total cholesterol from the three separate types of cholesterol measured in the fasting lipid panel. The AHA, ACC and NIH define the goal total cholesterol as lower than 200 mg/dL to keep your risk of heart disease and stroke low. The three groups consider total cholesterol levels of 200 to 239 mg/dL "borderline high," while levels greater than 240 mg/dL are "high." When you evaluate your cholesterol test results, keep in mind your goals for each individual type of cholesterol as well as your total cholesterol.