what is a normal level for cholesterol for a 44 year old woman

[cossette2]

Hi,
I've been told that my 277 total cholesterol is super high. Just wondering what I should be aiming for.....150?...180?...125?
I have hypothyroidism as well which is what is causing the high cholesterol I'm sure as I am only slightly overweight...maybe 5 pounds, if that, and eat well...avoid most sweets and high fat foods.
cossette

[zip2play]

Hi Cossette,
Current "Official" standards:

Total Cholesterol:
<200 Desirable
200-239 Borderline High
240 High

LDL Cholesterol
<100 Optimal
100-129 Near Optimal/Above Optimal
130-159 Borderline High
160-189 High
>190 Very high

HDL Cholesterol

<40 Low
>60 High

Two Classs A MAJOR Risk factors:
Heart Disease, Diabetes.

Lesser MAJOR Risk Factors:

Cigarette smoking
Hypertension (BP 140/90 mmHg or on antihypertensive medication)
Low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dl)*
Family history of premature CHD (CHD in male first degree relative <55 years; CHD in female first degree relative <65 years)
Age (men 45 years; women 55 years)

ps...These all come from the NIH (National Institute of Health (USA)
The whole page has a weath of information on cardiac risk:
[url]http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atglance.htm[/url]