What Does A Cholesterol Level Of 298 Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 27 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 27 Sep 2014 Answered on

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Yes thank you,,,,my chemical profile just came back,,my total cholesterol was 298. Will break it down,,,h d l was 161 which is so abnormally high,,every other level was normal except my LDL was 12 points above normal,,should I be concerned because is a h d l level being that high raise my total cholesterol thank you XXXX!!I'm 47 today

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HDL levels are good, TC levels are of concern

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and Happy birthday!!!

May God bless you with all the best things in life and more.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I should rightfully start by saying that your total cholesterol level is indeed quite high, but your body (may be even your diet and exercise have contributed) to help raise your HDL levels.

HDL is the good cholesterol and helps battle a condition called atherosclerosis that develops from raised cholesterol levels. So your raised HDL levels are not worrisome but in fact a blessing to help battle the total cholesterol levels. I would recommend a visit to your doctor as you have not mentioned any medications (eg. statins) being used by yourself, and these medications are required to help prevent serious events that can result from the levels you have.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)

Thank you so much..but it sounds to me the total is so high because of the extreme high level oh h d l...it didn't make sense at the end after saying all the good about h d l and then the tc being of concern..no have never been on star in a because my HD l has always been so high..so the risk ratio is what really counts if I'm correct..thank you so so much..just didn't make sense at the end

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
My apologies if things were not clear

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I am sorry if I did not make things more clear to you, my apologies.

What I meant in my first response was that the HDL levels are a way your body seems to be combating the high total cholesterol levels. Your HDL levels are high because of your total cholesterol, as the body has worked on increasing the HDL levels to prevent the high total cholesterol levels from causing harm.

So do not worry about the raised HDL levels, these are protective and are only raised as they are trying to prevent the total cholesterol levels from causing harm. As for other methods by which we can help lower the total cholesterol levels it would be with exercise, a healthy TLC diet and medications (eg. statins). As your total cholesterol levels reduce, your HDL levels will also gradually come down.

I hope things are explained more clearly now ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me if at all there is anything unclear or if you have any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj