BloodTestEasy

Cholesterol 247 mg/dL

= 6.4 mmol/L in SI units

High

Consider discussing this with your doctor in the coming weeks.

4580120200240300400600247
  • Markedly low
  • Low
  • Desirable
  • Borderline high
  • High
  • Very high
  • Extremely high
Your band
High · 24–3 mg/dL
Distance from typical range
47 mg/dL above 200
SI units
247 mg/dL = 6.4 mmol/L

What 247 mg/dL means

A total cholesterol of 247 mg/dL is in the high range — at or above the 240 mg/dL threshold US guidelines use to define high cholesterol.

At 240 mg/dL and above, total cholesterol is firmly in the territory where long-term risk of heart attack and stroke is meaningfully raised, and where clinicians usually act rather than just watch. This still is not an emergency — cholesterol damages arteries over years, not days — but it deserves a proper work-up soon. Your clinician will want a full lipid panel, a check for conditions that push cholesterol up (like an underactive thyroid), and a calculation of your overall risk to decide whether medication should join lifestyle changes.

The high-side cutoffs (desirable below 200 mg/dL, borderline high 200–239, high 240 and above) follow the US National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP III) categories most American labs print, and are the same for men and women. No US guideline defines an official "too low" line for total cholesterol, so the low-end boundaries here (low below 120 mg/dL, markedly low below 80 mg/dL) follow common clinical usage rather than a formal cutoff. This scale runs from 45 to 600 mg/dL; the rare results outside it call for the same response as the nearest extreme band.

Common causes

  • Genetics — inherited high cholesterol often shows up in this range
  • Diet consistently high in saturated and trans fats
  • Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
  • Kidney disease, especially nephrotic syndrome
  • Poorly controlled diabetes
  • Liver or bile duct conditions (cholestasis)
  • Medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine, some diuretics, and retinoids
  • Significant weight gain combined with inactivity

Sensible next steps

  1. Book an appointment with your clinician in the next few weeks — not urgent, but do not shelve it
  2. Ask for a full fasting lipid panel if this result was a total-only or nonfasting test
  3. Ask about checking thyroid function and blood sugar, which can drive cholesterol up
  4. Gather your family history of heart attacks, strokes, or high cholesterol before the visit
  5. Start lifestyle changes now — they help regardless of whether medication is added
  6. Discuss with your clinician whether a statin or other treatment fits your overall risk

Frequently asked questions

Is 247 mg/dL a normal total cholesterol level?

No — 247 mg/dL is in the high range. US guidelines classify 240 mg/dL and above as high cholesterol, which raises long-term heart and stroke risk. See your clinician soon for a full lipid panel and a plan.

What total cholesterol level is considered dangerous?

Unlike some lab values, total cholesterol has no "panic" number that sends you to the ER — its danger builds silently over years by narrowing arteries. Guidelines flag 240 mg/dL and above as high, and levels of 300 mg/dL or more warrant prompt evaluation because they often signal an inherited condition. The real danger comes from leaving a high level untreated for years, not from any single day's reading.

Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?

Often not anymore. Total cholesterol and HDL barely change after eating, so many clinicians now accept nonfasting lipid panels for screening. Fasting (typically 9–12 hours, water allowed) mainly matters when triglycerides or a calculated LDL need to be precise. If your result was borderline or unexpected, your clinician may repeat it fasting — follow the instructions your lab or clinician gives you.

Can I lower my cholesterol with diet and exercise alone?

Lifestyle changes help at every level and are worth starting now, but at 240 mg/dL and above they may not be enough on their own — especially if genetics are contributing. Your clinician will weigh your overall cardiovascular risk to decide whether a statin or other medication should be added.

Is a total cholesterol of 247 mg/dL too low?

There is no official "too low" cutoff for total cholesterol, and guidelines focus on levels that are too high. Values under about 120 mg/dL are uncommon and occasionally reflect an underlying issue such as an overactive thyroid, liver disease, or poor nutrient absorption — something your clinician can check with simple tests if there is any concern.

Does high cholesterol cause any symptoms?

Almost never — that is why it is called a silent risk factor. You cannot feel high cholesterol; the first "symptom" of years of untreated high cholesterol can be a heart attack or stroke. The rare exceptions are visible signs at very high, usually inherited levels: yellowish bumps on tendons, patches on the eyelids, or a gray ring around the iris at a young age. A blood test is the only reliable way to know your level.

Check a different Cholesterol value

Related values on your lab report

Sources

Educational information, not medical advice. Reference ranges vary between labs — always compare with the range printed on your own report and discuss results with your doctor. Full disclaimer