WVDHHR > Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease > Focus Areas > High Blood Pressure

Cholesterol Management

Too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood causes your arteries to get hard or stiff and they can become narrowed.

It's important to keep your cholesterol levels within healthy limits.

Heart Disease

You're considered to be at a high risk of heart disease if you have or have had any of the following:
A previous heart attack or stroke
Artery blockages in your neck (carotid artery disease)
Artery blockages in your arms or legs (peripheral artery disease)
Diabetes
In addition, two or more of the following risk factors also might place you in the very high risk group:
Smoking
High blood pressure
Low HDL cholesterol
Family history of early heart disease
Age older than 45 if you're a man, or older than 55 if you're a woman
Elevated lipoprotein (a), another type of fat (lipid) in your blood

What Can You Do?

Life’s Simple 7 – Cholesterol

Common Misconceptions About Cholesterol

Cooking for Lower Cholesterol

Million Hearts Recipes

Heart Attack Risk Calculator

“Just a Little Heart Attack” Go Red for Women

American Heart interactive guide- cholesterol

Cholesterol Levels

Total Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 200 mg/dL	Desirable
LDL Cholesterol Level (Bad Cholesterol)	LDL-Cholesterol Category
Less than 100 mg/dL	Optimal
HDL Cholesterol Level (Good Cholesterol)	HDL-Cholesterol Category
Men- Equal to or Greater than 40mg/dL	Optimal
HDL Cholesterol Level (Good Cholesterol)	HDL-Cholesterol Category
Women- Equal to or Greater than 50mg/dL	Optimal
Triglycerides Level (fats carried in the blood from the food we eat)	Category
Less than 150 mg/dL	Desirable