Heart and cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Included in every MyHealthspan membership: Focus, Baseline, and Complete.
Compare membershipsWhat your "good" cholesterol can and can't tell you.
HDL cholesterol measures the cholesterol carried by high-density lipoproteins, particles that help move excess cholesterol back to the liver. Lower HDL is linked with higher cardiovascular risk, so it's a standard part of a cholesterol panel.
Higher HDL isn't automatically better.
People with low HDL tend to have higher heart risk, often alongside high triglycerides, extra weight around the waist, or diabetes. That's why HDL is included in common risk calculators.
Genetic studies suggest that some ways of having higher HDL don't lower heart attack risk. So HDL works best as a signal about your overall metabolic and cardiovascular picture, read alongside LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and ApoB.
HDL is a useful signal, read best in context.
Questions
What can lower HDL?
Smoking, carrying extra weight around the waist, diabetes, and low physical activity are linked with lower HDL. Some medications can lower it too. Genes also play a big part, so some people have naturally low or high HDL.
Can I raise my HDL?
Regular physical activity, not smoking, and losing extra weight can raise HDL. These habits also help your heart in other ways, which matters more than the HDL number itself.