Is a Total Cholesterol count of 6.5 high even with optimal HDL ?

My Total Cholesterol count is 6.47 fasting. HDL 1.52, LDL 3.82, TGL 2.47, Chol/HDL ratio 4.3. My doctor has prescribed Lipitor but is it really necessary ? I realize I need to bring down my TGL count. Thanks.

As you can see below, you are high or borderline high in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides - all of the bad stuff that causes plaque. If your doctor thinks you should be on Lipitor, you probably should listen. The only way to affect these numbers without medicine is to raise your HDL. You can increase HDL through diet and exercise, but I don't think you can get it high enough to change those other numbers. Bottom line is this is your decision, but I would listen to my doctor if I were you.

Total cholesterol
Desirable: Less than 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)

Borderline high: 5.2鈥?.2 mmol/L

High: 6.2 mmol/L or higher - YOU ARE HERE

HDL cholesterol
High (desirable): More than 1.6 mmol/L

Acceptable:1.0鈥?.6 mmol/L - YOU ARE HERE

Low (undesirable): Less than 1.0 mmol/L

Total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio
Desirable:5:1 or less - YOU ARE HERE

Undesirable: More than 5:1

LDL cholesterol
Optimal: Less than 2.6 mmol/L

Near optimal: 2.6鈥?.4 mmol/L

Borderline high: 3.4鈥?.1 mmol/L - YOU ARE HERE

High: 4.1-4.9 mmol/L or higher

Very high:4.9 mmol/L or higher

VLDL cholesterol
Optimal: Less than 3.4 mmol/L

Borderline high: 3.4鈥?.1 mmol/L

High: 4.1 mmol/L or higher

Triglycerides
Normal: Less than 1.7 mmol/L

Borderline high:1.7鈥?.3 mmol/L

High: 2.3-5.6 mmol/L - YOU ARE HERE

Very high: 5.6 mmol/L or higher