Cholesterol is a fat-like substance your body needs, but too much of it is hard on your arteries. What matters on a test isn’t just total cholesterol — it’s the different types, the “bad” and the “good.” Here’s the plain-language version.
| Category | Reference range |
|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | below 5.2 — desirable mmol/L |
| LDL (“bad”) | below 3.0 (lower if you’re at risk) mmol/L |
| HDL (“good”) | above 1.0 (men) / 1.2 (women) mmol/L |
| Triglycerides | below 1.7 mmol/L |
LDL targets are personal and depend on your cardiovascular risk — for some people the target is lower than for others. Your doctor decides where yours sits. Always check the reference range printed on your lab report.
Cholesterol travels through the blood inside “carriers.” LDL is the “bad” cholesterol: when there’s too much of it, it builds up in the walls of your arteries and raises the risk of atherosclerosis. HDL is the “good” one: it helps clear the excess away. That’s why the balance matters, not just the total number.
High cholesterol (LDL in particular) usually doesn’t feel like anything, but over the years it raises the risk of heart and blood vessel disease.
Low HDL (the “good” kind) is an unfavourable sign — it means less protection for your arteries. Regular physical activity, quitting smoking and getting to a healthy weight all help bring it up.
Look at total cholesterol together with LDL, HDL and triglycerides rather than on its own — that set of numbers is called a lipid panel. Blood for a lipid panel is usually drawn after fasting (check what your lab asks for).
The overall risk assessment, and whether anything needs to be done about it, comes from a doctor looking at the whole picture rather than one number.
No need to decode the numbers yourself: take a photo of the report and the app explains “Cholesterol” and the rest in plain words — what is normal and what deserves attention.
Get the appOpen in TelegramFor total cholesterol, a value below 5.2 mmol/L is desirable, but LDL matters more — and the target for it depends on your cardiovascular risk and is set by your doctor.
Too much of the “bad” kind (LDL) builds up in the arteries and raises the risk of atherosclerosis. The “good” kind (HDL) helps carry excess cholesterol away. The picture looks good when LDL isn’t raised and HDL is high enough.
A lipid panel is often requested after fasting (8–12 hours without food), mainly because of triglycerides. Check what your own lab requires.
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. This page is a translation of the Russian original. The medical review applies to the original text.
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