A lipid panel reports several numbers, and each tells a different part of the story:
- Total cholesterol: the sum of all cholesterol in your blood. Generally, under 200 mg/dL is considered desirable.
- LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: the main driver of artery plaque. Lower is better — under 100 mg/dL is a common target, and lower still for high-risk patients.
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol: helps clear cholesterol from the bloodstream. Higher is better — above 60 mg/dL is favorable.
- Triglycerides: another blood fat tied to heart risk. Under 150 mg/dL is the usual goal.
Two things patients often miss: first, cholesterol is strongly influenced by genetics, so diet and exercise alone may not normalize a high LDL — that is not a personal failure, it is biology. Second, what matters most is your overall cardiovascular risk, not any single number in isolation. That is what we assess together, and it guides whether lifestyle changes alone are enough or medication should join the plan.
Further reading: what doctors want patients to know about high cholesterol (American Medical Association)