Everyone over 25 should have a lipid profile, or cholesterol test, to determine his cholesterol levels. Understanding what HDL cholesterol is and what it does will help you make informed decisions about your health.
Types
All cholesterol molecules are the same. Terms like "bad cholesterol" and "good cholesterol" describe the different particles that carry cholesterol through your blood stream.
Function
Low-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the "good cholesterol." It is the type of particle that carries cholesterol molecules back to the liver from the tissues of your body.
Effects
As it travels through the blood stream, HDL cholesterol picks up particles of or low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Excess LDL cholesterol can adhere to the walls of your arteries and cause plaque and eventually blockages to develop.
Benefits
Higher levels of HDL lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Significance
Your HDL level should be 40 mg/dL or above. The ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol (obtained by dividing HDL by LDL) should be above 0.3 and ideally above 0.4.
