Target cholesterol levels calculator

Did you know that your risk of developing heart disease can affect your recommended cholesterol targets? To find out your target cholesterol levels, answer the following questions and click “calculate.” You can print the results to share with your doctor.

You will need to know your blood pressure and cholesterol test results to use this tool.

This calculator is intended for people aged 30 and older. It uses a formula developed from the Framingham Heart Study to estimate your risk of developing heart disease. It also recommends cholesterol targets based on the latest Canadian Cholesterol Guidelines.

What is your gender? *

Please select your gender.

Please select your age range.

Please select your total cholesterol level.

Please select your level of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Please select your level of HDL (good) cholesterol.

Please select your systolic blood pressure.

Do you take medication to treat high blood pressure?

Do you smoke? (Select "Yes" if you smoke at all, whether you are a heavy smoker or an occasional smoker) *

Please enter whether you smoke.

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have chronic kidney disease?

Do you have any of the following medical conditions?

  • clinical atherosclerosis (e.g., clogged arteries, peripheral artery disease, angina, previous heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attack [mini-stroke])
  • current or history of abdominal aortic aneurysm (an enlargement in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen)

Do any of the following apply to you?

  • I have a brother or father who was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease) before the age of 55.
  • I have a sister or mother who was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease) before the age of 65.

Tips

* To convert from Canadian units (mmol/L) to American ones (mg/dL), multiply Canadian values by 38.61 to get American values. To convert the other way, divide the American values by 38.61 to get the Canadian values.

** Only the top number (systolic blood pressure) is used, because it is more important than the bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) in calculating heart disease risk.