Cholesterol HDL - High Density Lipoprotein. What Is It?

Cholesterol HDL or HDL Cholesterol - High Density Lipoprotein: The Good Cholesterol

Good cholesterol, (hdl - high density lipoprotein) bad cholesterol,(low density lipoprotein) what's the difference?Cholesterol HDL is so called the "good cholesterol." This scavenger travels the bloodstream. As it does, it removes harmful "bad cholesterol" from where it doesn't belong. High HDL cholesterol levels reduce the risk for heart disease. The opposite is true with low hdl levels.

What Makes HDL Cholesterol "Good"?

HDL is short for high-density lipoprotein. Each molecule of HDL cholesterol is a microscopic blob that consists of a rim of lipoprotein surrounding a cholesterol center. The HDL cholesterol particle is dense compared to other types of cholesterol particles. Thus, the name - high-density.

Remember

"HDL Cholesterol For A Better You!"

Cholesterol isn't all bad.

In fact, cholesterol is an essential fat. The HDL cholesterol provides stability in every cell of your body. It travels through the bloodstream, and has to be transported by molecules called lipoproteins. Each lipoprotein has its own preferences for cholesterol, and each acts differently with the cholesterol it carries.

Cholesterol HDL may act in a variety of ways that reduce the risk for heart disease by: It scavenges and removes LDL or "bad" cholesterol. HDL reduces, reuses, and recycles LDL cholesterol by transporting it to the liver where it can be reprocessed.

It maintains the inner walls of blood vessels (endothelium). Damage to the endothelium is the first step in the process of atherosclerosis, which causes heart attacks and strokes. HDL chemically scrubs the endothelium clean and keeps it healthy.

What Are Good Levels for the HDL Cholesterol?

A cholesterol test or lipid panel tells the level of HDL cholesterol. (high density lipoprotein) What do the numbers mean?

If its levels is greater than 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are high. That's good. HDL cholesterol levels less than 40 mg/dL are low. That's bad.

In general, people with high HDL are at lower risk for heart disease. People with low HDL are at higher risk.

What Can I Do if my HDL Cholesterol Level Is Low?

If your HDL is low, you can take several tacks to boost your HDL level and reduce your heart disease risk:

1. Exercise. Aerobic exercise for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week can help pump up HDL.

2. Quit smoking. Tobacco smoke lowers HDL, and shopping can increase HDL levels.

3. Keep a healthy weight. Besides improving HDL levels, avoiding obesity reduces risk for heart disease and multiple other health conditions.

Remember, many factors besides cholesterol contribute to heart disease. diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and genetics are all important as well.

Diet & Nutrition : How to Raise HDL Cholesterol

People with normal HDL cholesterol can have heart disease. And people with low HDL levels can have healthy hearts. Overall, though, people who have low HDL cholesterol will have greater risk of developing heart disease than people with high HDL levels.

Experts recommend follow-up cholesterol testing every five years for most people. People with abnormal lipid panels, or who have other risk factors, may need more frequent cholesterol tests.

By working to improve the results on your next cholesterol test, to increase your cholesterolhdl level, or just keep your numbers looking good , you'll reduce your risk for heart disease.

Cholesterol HDL is the "Good cholesterol". The more you have them in your body the lower the risk of you getting a heart attack.

Home - HDL - High Density Lipotropein