Cholesterol Test Results Explained: LDL, HDL and Triglycerides

Plain-English guide · Last updated October 20, 2026 · Based on NIH and U.S. government sources

The short answer: High cholesterol means you have more LDL ("bad") cholesterol or other fats in your blood than is healthy, which over time can build up in your arteries and raise your risk of heart disease. It usually causes no symptoms, so a blood test called a lipid panel is the only way to know, and heart-healthy habits, sometimes with medicine, can bring it down.

What a cholesterol test measures

A lipid panel (also called a lipoprotein panel) is a blood test that measures several kinds of fat in your blood. You may be asked to fast, meaning nothing but water, for 9 to 12 hours first. Follow your provider's instructions (MedlinePlus).

Total cholesterol: the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood.
LDL cholesterol: often called "bad" cholesterol, because it is the main source of buildup and blockage in the arteries.
HDL cholesterol: often called "good" cholesterol, because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries.
Non-HDL cholesterol: total cholesterol minus HDL. It includes LDL and other "bad" types.
Triglycerides: another type of fat in your blood that can raise your risk of heart disease.

Healthy cholesterol ranges for adults

MedlinePlus lists these general healthy levels for adults age 20 or older. Numbers are in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (MedlinePlus, MedlinePlus triglycerides test):

Sources: MedlinePlus. Ranges for people 19 and younger are different. Your doctor may set different goals based on your heart risk.
Test	Healthy level for most adults
Total cholesterol	Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL	Less than 100 mg/dL
Non-HDL	Less than 130 mg/dL
HDL	60 mg/dL or higher is best. Below 40 mg/dL (men) or below 50 mg/dL (women) is considered low.
Triglycerides	Less than 150 mg/dL. 150 to 199 is borderline high, 200 to 499 is high, and 500 or more is very high.

If you already have heart disease or are at high risk, your provider may aim for a lower LDL, such as 70 mg/dL or below (MedlinePlus). The NHLBI notes the goal for a healthy lipid profile is non-HDL below 130 mg/dL with HDL of at least 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women, and advises checking with your provider about the levels that are best for you (NHLBI).

What high or low numbers may mean

These are possible meanings, not a diagnosis. Only your doctor can interpret your results alongside your health history.

High LDL or total cholesterol

Too much cholesterol can stick to artery walls and narrow or block them, which raises the risk of coronary artery disease and other heart diseases (MedlinePlus). High cholesterol usually has no symptoms.

Low HDL

Because HDL helps clear cholesterol from your arteries, a low HDL can add to heart risk. Smoking lowers HDL (NHLBI).

High triglycerides

High triglycerides may raise your risk of heart disease, stroke and metabolic syndrome. Very high levels raise the risk of sudden pancreatitis (MedlinePlus).

Root causes and risk factors

The NHLBI says an unhealthy lifestyle is the most common cause of high LDL or low HDL, but genes, other medical conditions and some medicines also play a role (NHLBI).

Eating habits: foods high in saturated fat raise LDL. The NHLBI advises getting no more than 10% of daily calories from saturated fat.
Inactivity, smoking, stress, poor sleep and drinking too much alcohol (more than two drinks a day for men or one for women).
Family history: inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia can make it harder to clear LDL.
Other conditions: chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, overweight and obesity, PCOS, sleep apnea, lupus and HIV. See our TSH guide for thyroid testing.
Some medicines, such as certain beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, steroids and retinoids. Don't stop any of these on your own; ask your prescriber if one could be affecting your numbers.
Age and menopause: cholesterol tends to rise with age, and after menopause LDL usually goes up while HDL goes down.

For triglycerides, MedlinePlus adds eating a lot of sugar and refined carbs (like white-flour foods), not enough exercise, poorly controlled diabetes, kidney, liver or thyroid disease, and alcohol use disorder (MedlinePlus).

Plant-based food steps to discuss with your doctor

MedlinePlus describes a cholesterol-lowering eating pattern that fits well with whole plant foods (MedlinePlus):

Eat plenty of soluble fiber, aiming for 10 to 25 grams a day. Good sources are oatmeal and oat bran, apples, bananas, oranges, pears, prunes, and legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas and lima beans.
Cut saturated fat to less than 7% of calories. Swap butter and fatty meats for nuts and unsaturated oils such as olive or canola.
Get plant stanols and sterols, about 2 grams a day, found in whole grains, nuts, legumes and oils such as olive and avocado oil.
Add plant omega-3s from walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, and canola and soybean oils.
Fill up on fruits and vegetables and limit added sugar, which also helps triglycerides (MedlinePlus).

Other lifestyle steps: regular physical activity, a healthy weight (MedlinePlus suggests losing at least 5% of body weight if you are overweight), and not smoking (MedlinePlus).

Supplements: what NIH says

Omega-3s (EPA and DHA): NIH ODS says getting more EPA and DHA from foods or supplements lowers triglyceride levels. Plant foods mostly provide ALA, which the body converts to EPA and DHA only in very small amounts; algal oil supplements, made from algae, are a vegetarian source. Safety: high doses may cause bleeding problems with warfarin or other blood thinners (NIH ODS).
Red yeast rice: NCCIH explains that some products contain monacolin K, which is chemically the same as the statin drug lovastatin, so they carry the same possible side effects (muscle, kidney and liver damage) and drug interactions. Products vary widely, and many have been contaminated with citrinin, which can damage the kidneys. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding (NCCIH). If you are considering it, talk with your doctor first, and don't combine it with a statin or other medicines unless your doctor approves.

NCCIH advises talking with your health care providers before taking any supplement, especially if you take medicines (NCCIH).

Medicines and safety notes

Don't stop or change cholesterol medicine on your own. MedlinePlus notes that if you take medicine to lower cholesterol, you should still continue lifestyle changes alongside it (MedlinePlus). Discuss any change with your prescriber.
MedlinePlus says you may need a statin if you are 30 or older with an LDL of 160 mg/dL or higher, or have a strong family history of heart disease. That decision belongs with your doctor.

When to talk to your doctor

Any value on your lipid panel is flagged high or low.
Your LDL is 160 mg/dL or higher, or your triglycerides are 500 mg/dL or higher.
You have a family history of high cholesterol, early heart attack or stroke.
You haven't been tested in a while. MedlinePlus suggests adults be tested about every 5 years, and more often with age or risk factors.
You have chest pain, trouble breathing, or signs of a stroke such as sudden weakness or trouble speaking. Call 911.

Questions to ask at your next appointment

What LDL and non-HDL goals are right for me, given my overall heart risk?
Should I fast before my next lipid panel?
Could a medical condition or a medicine I take be affecting my numbers?
Would a lipoprotein(a) test or other test help understand my risk?
When should I retest after making diet changes?

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Frequently asked questions

What is a normal cholesterol level?

For most adults, MedlinePlus lists healthy levels as total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL, LDL below 100 mg/dL, non-HDL below 130 mg/dL, HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher, and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL. Your doctor may set different goals for you.

What is the difference between LDL and HDL?

LDL is often called bad cholesterol because it is the main source of buildup and blockage in the arteries. HDL is often called good cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries.

Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?

Often, yes. MedlinePlus says you may need to fast, with nothing but water, for 9 to 12 hours before a lipid panel. Follow your provider's instructions.

Can a plant-based diet lower cholesterol?

Eating patterns recommended by MedlinePlus to lower cholesterol focus on soluble fiber from oats, fruit and legumes, less saturated fat, plant sterols, nuts and fruits and vegetables, which are all features of a whole-food plant-based diet. Talk with your doctor about the right plan for you.

Is red yeast rice a safe alternative to a statin?

NCCIH says some red yeast rice products contain monacolin K, which is the same as the drug lovastatin, so they can have the same side effects and drug interactions. Products vary and some contain a kidney toxin called citrinin. Don't swap a prescribed medicine for a supplement without talking to your prescriber.

Sources

Medical disclaimer: This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always talk with your doctor about your lab results, and talk with your prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine or supplement. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911. Last updated October 20, 2026.