The higher your HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol — the good kind), the more your body removes deposited cholesterol from blood vessels. The higher your LDL-C (low-density — the bad kind), the more likely cholesterol is being deposited.

Remember when we thought cholesterol over 260 mg/dl was bad? And then as we looked at emerging data, target cholesterol levels dropped in steps to 200, where we are now. We also found out that LDL, HDL and tri­glycerides are important factors, with some components actually being good for you. Remarkably, this shift has occurred in just the last 10-15 years.

A lot of exploration has gone into the study of cholesterol levels. For many years, medical professionals concluded that if you kept your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) below a certain number, you were in good shape.

However, as research and testing have evolved, what we now know is that the previous acceptable levels have changed. So has the testing.