Normal cholesterol ranges vary by age and gender. Understand the differences between fasting and nonfasting tests and how to naturally raise good cholesterol.
The guidelines for total cholesterol are the same for adults of all ages. Total cholesterol that's less than 200 mg/dL is desirable because it is associated with reduced heart disease risk. At 200 to 239, heart disease risk is borderline high, and anything above 239 mg/dL carries a high risk for heart disease.
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Cholesterol serves many important functions in your body, but too much is dangerous. Elevated cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease because it contributes to atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty masses called plaques form inside arteries.
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