The American Heart Association estimates that 102.2 million American adults in 2010 have cholesterol levels of 200 or more -- the threshold for high risk of heart disease. Among the organization's recommendations for keeping this figure in check is dietary change, medication and physical activity. Increasing the heart and breathing rates has a positive effect on cholesterol levels and improves a person's overall fitness.
Increases HDL
According to the AHA, regular exercise sometimes raises HDL. HDL, or high-density lipoproteins, are considered good cholesterol, acting as a filter in the circulatory system by removing excess cholesterol from the blood and carrying it away from arterial walls. According to Len Kravitz, an exercise science professor at University of New Mexico, exercise not only increases heart rate, but the production of enzymes to block the flow of cholesterol through the body.
Effect on Men
The AHA reports that HDL levels below 40 mg/dL increases the risk of heart attack. Kravitz writes that the risk of coronary heart disease increased by up to 3 percent for every 1 mg/dL decrease in HDL levels. His metareview of studies on the topic show that moderate exercise, including running at an 11-minute per mile pace, can raise HDL levels for men.
Effect on Women
Kravitz cites a 1999 study showing that active women have higher levels of HDL than women who don't exercise. While the risk factor of heart disease for men is 40 mg/dL of HDL, in women it is 50 mg/dL. The AHA reports that stroke also becomes a risk with low HDL levels.
Impact on LDL
Low-density lipoproteins are what doctors commonly refer to as "bad cholesterol." When LDL levels are high, the liver is not as effective at removing the element from the bloodstream. A separate metareview performed by Kravitz found that reducing LDL through exercise was not as easy. He found that LDL could be reduced through both aerobic exercise and resistance training, including weightlifting.
