What are healthy cholesterol levels?
If you’ve received your cholesterol test results, you may be wondering what the numbers mean.
There is no single cholesterol level that is right for everyone. Your GP or another healthcare professional will look at your results alongside factors such as your age, blood pressure, family history and any existing health conditions.
There is no single cholesterol level that is right for everyone. Your GP or another healthcare professional will look at your results alongside factors such as your age, blood pressure, family history and any existing health conditions.
Healthy cholesterol levels for adults
As a general guide, healthy levels for adults are:
- Total cholesterol: below 5 mmol/L
- Non-HDL cholesterol: below 4 mmol/L
- HDL cholesterol: above 1.0 mmol/L for men and above 1.2 mmol/L for women
Cholesterol is measured in millimoles per litre, written as mmol/L. These figures are a general guide for healthy adults. Your personal target may be different, particularly if you have heart disease, diabetes or another health condition. nhs.uk
What do the different numbers mean?
Your cholesterol test may include several results:
- Total cholesterol is the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood.
- HDL cholesterol is sometimes called “good” cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away from your arteries.
- Non-HDL cholesterol includes the types of cholesterol that can contribute to fatty build-up in the arteries.
- Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the blood.
- Your cholesterol ratio compares your total cholesterol with your HDL cholesterol and may help your healthcare professional assess your overall risk.
It is possible to have a total cholesterol result within the healthy range but an unhealthy balance of the different types. This is why it is helpful to discuss your full result with a healthcare professional. bhf.org.uk, myhealthlondon.nhs.uk, heartuk.org.uk
What if my cholesterol is higher than the healthy range?
Try not to worry. A result above the general healthy range does not necessarily mean that you have heart disease.
Your healthcare professional will consider your cholesterol alongside other factors to understand your overall risk of heart and circulatory disease. They may use a tool called QRISK to estimate your risk over the next 10 years. nhs.uk, nice.org.uk
Depending on your results and personal risk, they may suggest:
- Making changes to your diet
- Becoming more active
- Stopping smoking
- Managing your weight
- Taking cholesterol-lowering medicine
- Having another cholesterol test after a set period
If you are unsure what your results mean, ask your GP, nurse or pharmacist to explain each number and whether you have a personal cholesterol target.
Small changes can help
There are positive steps you can take to support healthy cholesterol levels. These include eating less saturated fat, replacing it with unsaturated fat, eating more fibre and being regularly active.
You do not need to change everything at once. Start with one or two manageable steps and build from there.
ProActiv® products contain plant sterols, which have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.* You can also download our Cholesterol Lowering Starter Kit for practical food swaps and everyday tips.
If high cholesterol or early heart disease runs in your family, encourage close relatives to speak to their GP or another healthcare professional about whether they should have their cholesterol checked.
*Plant sterols have been shown to lower blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. Always use the product according to the instructions on the pack.
