QUESTION: A question regarding the cholesterol count.
I dropped mine from 248 to 208 in three months by eating low fat foods, and am still working at it.
What I want to know about this is if there is such a thing as a "0" cholesterol level? If not, what is the best level under 200 that one could or should maintain.
I would like to go for a perfect score.
ANSWER: Good for you and you are doing just fine so far.
No, there is no such thing as a zero level cholesterol.
The lowest numbers are found at birth when the levels are below 100 mg/dl.
The levels then rise gradually through the young and teen age years, when they dip just a bit.
Then they begin to rise again throughout adulthood.
Woman generally have lower levels until after menopause when they begin to surpass men.
At present most physicians use the classification of cholesterol levels established by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
They divide the "total blood cholesterol" levels into three groups, women and men being treated equally.
Anything over 240 mg/dl is considered "high", with important implications and risks for heart disease.
Levels between 200 -239 mg/dl are considered "borderline high", while anything below 200 mg/dl is classified as "desirable".
Since cholesterol levels vary considerably depending a good deal on sex and age, no "perfect score" has ever been established, though by the sounds of it, you may well be the first to reach it!
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
