A total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL, which is 6.2 mmol/L in UK units, is classed as high in the US and is above the NHS guide of 5 mmol/L or less. But total cholesterol alone does not tell you how risky it is. What matters is how much of it is LDL and non-HDL cholesterol, how much is protective HDL, and your overall risk of heart disease and stroke.
| Category | Reference range |
|---|---|
| Total, desirable (US) | below 200 (below 5.2) mg/dL (mmol/L in brackets) |
| Total, borderline high (US) | 200–239 (5.2–6.1) mg/dL (mmol/L in brackets) |
| Total, high (US) | 240 or more (6.2 or more) mg/dL (mmol/L in brackets) |
| Total, NHS guide for healthy adults | 5.0 mmol/L or less (about 193) mg/dL (mmol/L in brackets) |
| HDL, low | below 40 men / 50 women (below 1.0 / 1.2) mg/dL (mmol/L in brackets) |
To convert, mmol/L × 38.7 = mg/dL. Targets depend on your personal risk, set by your doctor, not by the report.
By the classic US categories, yes: 240 mg/dL and above is "high", 200 to 239 is "borderline high". In UK terms, 6.2 mmol/L is above the general NHS guide of 5 mmol/L. Yet two people with the same total can be in very different situations.
Take a woman with 240 mg/dL whose HDL is 90 mg/dL (2.3 mmol/L) and LDL 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L), and a man with 240 mg/dL whose HDL is 38 (1.0) and LDL 170 (4.4). Same total, quite different profile. That is why a doctor never decides on the total alone.
Women tend to have higher HDL before the menopause, and total cholesterol commonly rises by 0.5 to 1 mmol/L (about 20 to 40 mg/dL) around and after the menopause. A total of 240 in a woman of 55 is therefore frequent and often driven partly by HDL. In men, raised total cholesterol more often comes with low HDL and higher LDL.
Other things raise cholesterol too: an underactive thyroid, some kidney and liver conditions, pregnancy, and some medicines. Doctors often check thyroid function when cholesterol is unexpectedly high.
Risk calculators combine age, sex, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, cholesterol and family history to estimate the chance of a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years. In the UK the standard tool is QRISK3; in the US doctors use the ASCVD or PREVENT calculators. The decision about whether to start any treatment depends on that overall risk, not on the total cholesterol figure alone.
If your lipid profile was not fasting, that is usually fine for cholesterol; only very high triglycerides need a fasting repeat.
A total cholesterol of 240 (6.2) is discussed at a routine appointment, typically with a full lipid profile and a risk assessment. See your doctor sooner if:
Written using public information from:
No need to decode the numbers yourself: take a photo of the report and the app explains “Cholesterol 240 (6.2 mmol/L)” and the rest in plain words — what is normal and what deserves attention.
App StoreGoogle PlayWeb versionIt is high, but how risky it is depends on your LDL, HDL and overall cardiovascular risk. Many people with 240 are at low risk; others need treatment. Your doctor will calculate this with you.
About 6.2 mmol/L. To convert, divide mg/dL by 38.7. 200 mg/dL is about 5.2 mmol/L.
It is above the NHS guide of 5 mmol/L. In women, especially after the menopause, a good part may be HDL, so look at the full profile and discuss your risk with your doctor.
It is mildly above the NHS guide of 5 mmol/L and below 6.2 (240 mg/dL). For most people at low overall risk, lifestyle measures are the usual first step.
Not necessarily. The decision is based on your overall risk score, LDL level and medical history, and is made with your doctor. Some people at higher risk benefit from treatment; many at low risk do not need it.
This material is for general information only. It is not a medical opinion and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory and the method — rely on the range printed on your own report. Your doctor makes the final interpretation.
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