Medical Questions » Cholesterol Questions » Question No. 210
| Question: | What should your cholesterol level be? My doctor tells me mine is alright at 6.3, but a friend has been told to go on a diet at a level of 5.8. |
| Answer: | This is a very controversial area. Cholesterol is a type of fat which is essential for the functioning of the body, but it can cause severe diseases if present in excess amounts. I have heard figures between 4.5 and 7.0 quoted as being the upper limit of normal for cholesterol, but most laboratories use a value of 5.5. Your sex and age is important too. A higher value is accepted in older people and females than in younger males.
Doctors are more likely to treat the problem if you are overweight, have high blood pressure or diabetes, or have a family history of heart disease or stroke.
Cholesterol is divided into high-density and low-density fats. If the amount of high-density fats is high, there is less to be concerned about, as it is the low-density fats that are a factor in heart disease and hardening of the arteries.
I recommend a diet to anyone who has a level of 5.5 or more. Treatment with drugs as well as diet would certainly be given at a level of 7.0.
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