What is the desirable level for total cholesterol?

What is the desirable level for total cholesterol?

• A. <4.0 mmol/L.
• B. <5.5 mmol/L.
• C. <6.0 mmol/L.
• D. <3.0 mmol/L.

Answer: (B)

Understanding total cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk helps explain why this threshold is desirable. Lower total cholesterol generally means less buildup of plaque in arteries, which reduces the chance of heart disease and stroke. The commonly cited target for a healthy adult is to stay below a moderate threshold—roughly five and a half millimoles per liter. This level keeps risk lower without requiring unrealistically strict targets for everyone. Targets well below that would be unnecessarily stringent for many people, while a level around six or higher is associated with higher risk. So the option describing being under about five and a half millimoles per liter is the best fit.

Understanding total cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk helps explain why this threshold is desirable. Lower total cholesterol generally means less buildup of plaque in arteries, which reduces the chance of heart disease and stroke. The commonly cited target for a healthy adult is to stay below a moderate threshold—roughly five and a half millimoles per liter. This level keeps risk lower without requiring unrealistically strict targets for everyone. Targets well below that would be unnecessarily stringent for many people, while a level around six or higher is associated with higher risk. So the option describing being under about five and a half millimoles per liter is the best fit.