Cholesterol Converter

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. It is essential for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest food. Blood cholesterol levels are measured to assess cardiovascular health risk. The US uses mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), while most other countries use mmol/L (millimoles per liter). Desirable total cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L). LDL ('bad') cholesterol should be below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L), while HDL ('good') cholesterol should be above 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L). The conversion factor is 38.67: to convert mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply by 38.67. High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, making regular monitoring important.