“Your cholesterol levels show how much cholesterol is circulating in your blood. Your HDL (“good” cholesterol) is the one number you want to be high (ideally above 60). Your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be below 100. Your total should be below 200. Talk with your provider about what your results mean for you and how to manage your cholesterol.

Your cholesterol levels are important because they help you know your risk for heart disease. Cholesterol is a type of lipid (fat) that helps your body perform many important functions. But too much cholesterol in your blood is harmful. It can enter your artery wall, damage its integrity and lead to atherosclerotic plaque (hardened deposits) forming.

Cholesterol travels through your blood silently. And it turns into plaque silently. Plaque buildup is like someone tiptoeing on a carpet. You might not see or notice its presence for a long time.”

Cleveland Clinic (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11920-cholesterol-numbers-what-do-they-mean)