There are many factors in determining the cholesterol level of an individual. Check with same sex parent and see if high cholesterol is part of the family make up.
The ideal numbers are less than 200 for adults 20 year old and older. What is even more important is the ratio between LDL and HDL. It is desirable for LDL to be less than 130 and HDL equal to or higher than 60.
Yes, the recommended level is 200 or below. Mine was 227 and my doctor was concerned that something could break loose and cause a blockage in the arteries.