Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, increasing HDL levels can prevent heart disease. HDL is high density lipoprotein, or "good" cholesterol. HDL levels can be increased by making lifestyle changes.
How HDL Works
The American Heart Association states that HDL is known as "good cholesterol" because high levels of HDL have been shown to prevent a heart attack. HDL works by moving cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver. By decreasing cholesterol in the arteries, it decreases risk of a blockage that could lead to a heart attack. The target HDL level is greater than 40mg/dL for men and 50mg/dL for women.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis of vessels that supply the heart. It is caused by increased obesity, high-fat diets and sedentary lifestyles. All these factors increase risk of heart disease and death. Increased cholesterol levels clog arteries and lead to plaque formation. This process is called atherosclerosis. Eventually, a significant blockage of the arteries that supply the heart can lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen fed to the heart. A heart attack occurs when your heart is deprived of oxygen to the point where damage occurs to heart tissue. A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, can cause a decrease in heart function, irregular heart rhythms and even death.
LDL and HDL
Prevention of heart disease also includes tight control of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol brings cholesterol to the tissues and vessels. Elevated LDL levels have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL works to counteract the work of LDL. The recommendation is to have a LDL level less than 100mg/dL. This can be accomplished by dietary changes and/or the use of a statin, a medication prescribed by your physician.
The Framingham Study
The Framingham study is a prospective cohort study that observed cholesterol levels in men and women age 49 to 82 over a four-year period.This study found that HDL levels have a statistically significant inverse relationship with coronary heart disease. So persons with low levels of HDL are at an increased risk of coronary disease. The results of this clinical study have been used to guide clinical management of cholesterol levels.
How to Increase HDL
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several lifestyle changes that can be made to increase HDL levels. Smoking cessation can increase HDL levels by as much as 10 percent. Similar effects have been seen by losing weight, exercising daily and eating a low-fat diet. Your doctor may prescribe medications such as niacin, fibrates, or a statin to increase your good cholesterol.
