"284 160 – 189 mg/dL High 190 mg/dL and higher Very high HDL Cholesterol Level HDL Cholesterol Category Less than 40 mg/dL A major risk factor for heart disease 40 – 59 mg/dL The higher, the better 60 mg/dL and higher Considered protective against heart disease Triglycerides also can raise your risk for heart disease. If your triglyceride level is borderline high (150 – 199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or higher), you may need treatment. How Is High Blood Cholesterol Treated? High blood cholesterol is treated with lifestyle changes and medicines. The main goal of treatment is to lower your low - density li poprotein (LDL) cholesterol level enough to reduce your risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack, and other related health problems. Your risk for heart disease and heart attack goes up as your LDL cholesterol level rises and your number of heart dise ase risk factors increases. Some people are at high risk for heart attacks because they already have heart disease. Other people are at high risk for heart disease because they have diabetes or more than one heart disease risk factor. Talk with your doctor about lowering your cholesterol and your risk for heart disease. Also, check the list to find out whether you have risk factors that affect your LDL cholesterol goal: • Cigarette smoking • High blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher), or you’re on medicine to treat high blood pressure • Low high - density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL) • Family history of early heart disease (heart disease in father or brother before age 55; heart disease in mother or sister before age 65) • Age (men 45 years or old er; women 55 years or older) Lowering Cholesterol Using Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)"