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:: Health Conditions
- Cholesterol | | |
HDL (High-Density
Lipoprotein) Cholesterol - Good Cholesterol
Cholesterol travels through your blood attached to a protein.
This cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein.
Lipoproteins are either high density, low density, or very
low density, depending on how much protein thereis in relation
to fat.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is sometimes called "good"
cholesterol because it helps prevent cholesterol (a waxy,
fatlike substance) from building up in the arteries. HDL,
which is made mostly of protein and only a small amount of
fat, helps clear LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or "bad"
cholesterol from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol appear to help protect against
heart disease. A person at risk for heart disease may be advised
to raise his or her HDL cholesterol levels by eating a balanced
diet, exercising and losing weight, and stopping tobacco use.
In addition, medications may be used to raise HDL levels.
Low HDL cholesterol increases the risk of coronary artery
disease. High levels of HDL appear to help protect against
atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and other complications.
The cholesterol level can be checked with a blood
test. Cholesterol is measured either in milligrams per
deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or in millimoles per liter of blood
(mmol/L).
|
HDL (mg/dL)ClassificationHDL (mmol/L) |
|
60 or above
|
high/desirable |
1.56 |
|
| less than 40 |
low |
1.04 or below |
|
|