LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels should remain below 100 mg/dL of blood, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Anything above 100 can cause cholesterol to calcify in the arteries as plaque. This arterial plaque can then build into blockages, which can raise the risk of cardiovascular complications such as arteriosclerosis and heart disease.

On the Other: HDL Cholesterol

HDL or "good" cholesterol levels should remain above 60 mg/dL of blood, according to the AHA. Unlike LDL cholesterol, you want higher levels of HDL, as HDL cholesterol is responsible for helping remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream and putting it back into the liver where it can then be eliminated from the body. This can help lower your risks of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Bottom Line

When looking at cholesterol levels you should look at the total cholesterol levels. This takes into consideration both your HDL and LDL cholesterol and gives an overall estimation of where your levels are at. Your total cholesterol levels should be below 200 mg/dL. Unfortunately, according to the American Heart Association, 106.7 million people in the United States over the age of 20 have cholesterol levels higher than 200.

Source:

American Heart Association: Cholesterol Levels

American Heart Association: Cholesterol Statistics