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Cholesterol Converter
Convert between mg/dL and mmol/L
The Layperson’s Guide to Understanding Cholesterol
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found naturally in your body. Your liver makes most of the cholesterol you need, but you also get some from foods like eggs, meat, and dairy products. While your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells and make hormones, too much can cause problems.
HDL – “Good” Cholesterol
Think of HDL as your body’s cleanup crew. HDL cholesterol acts like a garbage truck, picking up excess cholesterol from your arteries and taking it back to your liver to be processed or removed from your body. Higher HDL levels are better because they help protect against heart disease.
LDL – “Bad” Cholesterol
Think of LDL as delivering packages that can get stuck. LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol from your liver to cells throughout your body. But when there’s too much LDL, it can build up on artery walls, creating sticky plaques that narrow your arteries and make it harder for blood to flow.
Why These Numbers Matter
Think of your arteries like highways for your blood. When LDL cholesterol builds up, it’s like having construction that narrows the lanes. When HDL cholesterol does its job, it’s like having a good maintenance crew keeping the roads clear. The goal is to have enough “good” cholesterol (HDL) to keep your arteries clean and not too much “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause blockages.
Conversion Formula
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mg/dL to mmol/L:
mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 38.67 -
mmol/L to mg/dL:
mg/dL = mmol/L × 38.67 - Conversion factor: 38.67 is the molecular weight of cholesterol (386.7 g/mol) divided by 10.
Reference Ranges
Borderline: 200-239 mg/dL (5.17-6.18 mmol/L)
High: ≥240 mg/dL (≥6.21 mmol/L)
Low (risk): <50 mg/dL (<1.29 mmol/L) women
Good: ≥60 mg/dL (≥1.55 mmol/L)
Borderline: 130-159 mg/dL (3.36-4.11 mmol/L)
High: ≥160 mg/dL (≥4.14 mmol/L)