You may wonder what constitutes normal cholesterol levels by age. It is natural to experience changes in your cholesterol that correspond with certain life events. That said, the ideal cholesterol levels for men and women never actually change once you reach adulthood. Below are some cholesterol considerations for women and men at every age.Cholesterol levels for menA number of different factors contribute to your overall cholesterol level, but the general rule is that that number should always stay below 200. Any level over 200 is borderline high while anything over 240 is considered high and poses a real health risk. While metabolism helps children and young men to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, it is normal for most men to see a dramatic change in their levels over the age of 40. The best way to demonstrate this is by the average cholesterol readings for those two age groups. For example, men under the age of 40 have an average overall cholesterol reading of 185; that jumps to an average of 205 for the ages of 40-49 and to 208 for 50 and over. In other words, the average man over 40 is now at risk of Heart disease due to high cholesterol.Cholesterol levels for womenAs with men, the ideal cholesterol levels for women of all ages are under 200, and the lower they go the better. Women have the biggest issues maintaining a healthy cholesterol level following menopause. Women under the age of 40 actually have a lower average cholesterol score than men of the same age (183), but that average jumps to a borderline score of 194 between the ages of 40 and 49. By 50-59 years, cholesterol levels for women overtake those of men, coming in at a dangerous average of 219.For high cholesterol information and advice from the trusted medical experts at the Mayo Clinic, visit
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-cholesterol/DS00178. It is normal for cholesterol levels in both men and women to climb with age, but that does not mean that the higher score is healthy in any way.