The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, data list heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. Clearly, the association of high blood cholesterol with heart disease and stroke risk has not helped its reputation. Yet cholesterol is essential to your body's health. What's more, all cholesterol types are not created equal. While high LDL levels increase heart disease risk, higher HDL counts have protective effects on the heart, according to the American Heart Association.
Cholesterol Basics
Cholesterol plays many important roles in your body. For instance, it serves as a structural component of all cell membranes, and helps produce steroid hormones, vitamin D, as well as bile acids for digestion. Yet according to the Mayo Clinic, excess blood cholesterol can form plaque in your arteries, with the potential of disrupting blood flow to your organs. Interrupted blood flow to your heart or brain can lead to a heart attack or stroke, respectively.
Types
Cholesterol is so hydrophobic, or "water-hating," that it requires special transport proteins to transport it through your bloodstream, notes scientist Pamela Champe. Also known as lipoproteins, these transport molecules are high-density lipoprotein, or HDL; low-density lipoprotein, or LDL; and very low-density lipoprotein, or VLDL. HDL essentially scavenges excess cholesterol deposits in your blood and carries them back to the liver for elimination. In contrast, LDL and VLDL are considered "bad" because they contribute to cholesterol accumulation in your blood.
Normal Values
Cholesterol values are usually given in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL. If you're an adult male, your HDL cholesterol count should be 40 mg/dL or higher. For women, normal values are 50 mg/dL or higher. However, HDL counts that exceed 60 mg/dL are ideal because this is the level at which HDL's protective effects against heart disease are maximized, according to the American Heart Association.
Low Cholesterol
The American Heart Association lists low HDL cholesterol as a major risk factor for heart disease, HDL levels are considered low if they fall below 40 mg/dL for a man and below 50 mg/dL for a woman. In such a case, your health care insurer will most likely also check your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels to better evaluate your risk.
Considerations
It's important not to look at your HDL, or "good cholesterol" count, in isolation. Often, a health care insurance provider will also look at the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, particularly if your total cholesterol is high. The American Heart Association defines high blood cholesterol as a total cholesterol count of 240 mg/dL or more. Looking at your full lipid profile becomes especially important in the presence of high total cholesterol or other heart disease risk factors, such as obesity, smoking or physical inactivity.
Prevention/Solution
Simple lifestyle changes can help you increase your HDL cholesterol count, according to the Mayo Clinic, such as quitting smoking, losing excess weight, exercising briskly for at least 30 minutes five times a week, drinking alcohol in moderation, and avoiding foods that contain saturated and trans fats. Foods that may enhance your cholesterol profile include whole grains, nuts, omega-3 fatty acids and plant sterols. The Mayo Clinic also indicates that some LDL-lowering medications can boost HDL, including niacin, fibrates and statins.
References
- CDC: High Cholesterol
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol Levels
- "Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry"; Pamela Champe et al; 2006
- Mayo Clinic: HDL Cholesterol
