Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHDL vs. LDL CholesterolHDL Cholesterol LevelsRisks of Low HDLHow to Raise Good CholesterolFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
HDL vs. LDL Cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol Levels
Risks of Low HDL
How to Raise Good Cholesterol
Frequently Asked Questions
Cholesterolis a waxy, fatty substance that plays an important role in the body. It is found in cells and helps produce hormones, likeestrogen.
Your liver produces enough cholesterol for the body to function effectively, but certain foods—primarily animal products, like eggs, dairy, and meat—also contain cholesterol.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
There are two types of lipoprotein that carry cholesterol to and from cells: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) andlow-density lipoprotein(LDL).
HDL is considered the “good” cholesterol because a healthy level may protect you from cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to fatty buildup (plaque) in your arteries.
HDL cholesterol contains a higher proportion of protein and is made up of substances that don’t lead toplaquebuildup in your arteries. High-density cholesterol also carries LDL cholesterol away from the arteries back to the liver, where it’s broken down and eliminated from the body.
On the other hand, LDL cholesterol has a higher cholesterol and lower protein composition. When there’s an excess of LDL cholesterol from consuming a diet high in calories and fat, excess LDL cholesterol seeps through artery walls and oxidizes (combines with oxygen).
Medical experts recommend that you get alipid panelto check your cholesterol levels starting at age 20 and every five years after that. If you’re at high risk of developing heart disease, your healthcare provider may suggest a yearly panel to monitor your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.
Total cholesterol (HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) should fall under 200 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol should be more than 55 mg/dL for women and more than 45 mg/dL for men. LDL cholesterol should be under 130 mg/dL. However, if you have heart or blood vessel disease,diabetes, or high total cholesterol, your LDL cholesterol should be less than 70 mg/dL.
When your HDL cholesterol levels are so low that they’re unable to transport cholesterol to the liver to flush it out, you are at higher risk of plaque buildup and blockages of your blood vessels.
Why Your Cholesterol and Triglycerides Levels Are Important
HDL and Heart Attack
People with HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 mg/dL had a nearly 50% increased risk of dying from a cardiovascular cause or having a heart attack compared to those with HDL cholesterol levels 41–60 mg/dL.
What Is a Silent Heart Attack?
A 2016 study found that low HDL cholesterol levels were linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.However, low HDL cholesterol in isolation is considerably less predictive of cardiovascular disease risk in the presence of high triglycerides, high LDL cholesterol, or both.
7 Causes of Low HDL Cholesterol Levels
The key to raising HDL cholesterol is lowering LDL cholesterol. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommend the following for increasing your HDL cholesterol level:
Summary
HDL cholesterol is also known as the “good” cholesterol because it’s associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. However, research has shown that it’s not healthy to have a low level of HDL cholesterol either. It’s best to keep your HDL cholesterol level in the normal range for your age group and sex.
What is a good cholesterol level?
A good cholesterol level is different for people of different ages and sexes. For example, for anyone younger than 20 years old, total cholesterol should be less than 170 mg/dL, non-HDL cholesterol should be less than 120 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dL, and HDL cholesterol should be more than 45 mg/dL.
How do you raise good cholesterol?
You can increase your HDL cholesterol level through lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and lean meats (preferably fish); exercising for at least 30 minutes five times per week; quitting smoking; avoiding saturated fats and trans fats; and losing weight.
Which is the good cholesterol?
HDL is considered the “good” cholesterol that will help protect you from cardiovascular disease. High-density cholesterol carries the “bad” LDL cholesterol away from the arteries back to the liver, which breaks it down and eliminates it from the body.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Harvard Health.Sliding scale for LDL: how low should you go?Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: what you need to know about high blood cholesterol.American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia).Landmesser U, Hazen S.HDL-cholesterol, genetics, and coronary artery disease: the myth of the ‘good cholesterol’?Eur Heart J. 2018;39(23):2179-2182. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy299Bartlett J, Predazzi IM, Williams SM, et al.Is isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol a cardiovascular disease risk factor? New insights from the Framingham offspring study.Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2016;9(3):206-212. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.115.002436Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678MedlinePlus.Cholesterol medicines.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Harvard Health.Sliding scale for LDL: how low should you go?Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: what you need to know about high blood cholesterol.American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia).Landmesser U, Hazen S.HDL-cholesterol, genetics, and coronary artery disease: the myth of the ‘good cholesterol’?Eur Heart J. 2018;39(23):2179-2182. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy299Bartlett J, Predazzi IM, Williams SM, et al.Is isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol a cardiovascular disease risk factor? New insights from the Framingham offspring study.Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2016;9(3):206-212. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.115.002436Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678MedlinePlus.Cholesterol medicines.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Harvard Health.Sliding scale for LDL: how low should you go?Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: what you need to know about high blood cholesterol.American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia).Landmesser U, Hazen S.HDL-cholesterol, genetics, and coronary artery disease: the myth of the ‘good cholesterol’?Eur Heart J. 2018;39(23):2179-2182. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy299Bartlett J, Predazzi IM, Williams SM, et al.Is isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol a cardiovascular disease risk factor? New insights from the Framingham offspring study.Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2016;9(3):206-212. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.115.002436Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678MedlinePlus.Cholesterol medicines.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.
American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Harvard Health.Sliding scale for LDL: how low should you go?
Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: what you need to know about high blood cholesterol.
American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia).
Landmesser U, Hazen S.HDL-cholesterol, genetics, and coronary artery disease: the myth of the ‘good cholesterol’?Eur Heart J. 2018;39(23):2179-2182. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy299
Bartlett J, Predazzi IM, Williams SM, et al.Is isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol a cardiovascular disease risk factor? New insights from the Framingham offspring study.Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2016;9(3):206-212. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.115.002436
Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678
MedlinePlus.Cholesterol medicines.
MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.
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