High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is called the "good" cholesterol because it absorbs LDL "bad" cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, which helps remove it from your body. Just knowing your total cholesterol isn't enough. Not only does the total cholesterol number need to be...
also known as “HDL”. Because it is a lipoprotein, HDL also helps transport cholesterol around the body. But unlike LDL, HDL has the important task of collecting cholesterol that is not being used by tissues and bringing itbackto the liver to be repurposed or destroyed. HDL ...
Lifestyle changes known to increase HDL cholesterol have been shown to lower the risk of heart attack. These changes include moving more, quitting smoking, and eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains. But medicines used just to increase HDL cholesterol levels have not lowered ...
Understand the conditions that affect your heart and the habits that can help prevent or manage them. Taking action will help you keep your ticker in top shape. Heart Disease Cholesterol What is cholesterol? You may think all cholesterol is bad, but your body needs some to work right. ...
Total cholesterol is actually a fairly poor predictor of heart disease, and LDL “bad” cholesterol is only slightly better. Instead, the ratio of “good” HDL cholesterol to LDL is the most reliable indicator of cardiovascular health. That means higher HDL is as important (if not more so) ...
Chronic stress can also lead to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, eating higher calorie but less nutritious food, and being less physically active, leading to higher LDL and lower healthy cholesterol levels (HDL). Why is stress management important? Stress is unavoidable. In the short term, ...
HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, is considered “healthy cholesterol.” That’s because it goes through the arteries and cleans up all that plaque left behind by the LDL cholesterol, keeping your arteries clear and allowing your heart to do its job properly. Raising HDL cholesterol is one...
Still, making lifestyle changes toraise your HDL cholesterolcan benefit your health, especially when it lowers your LDL cholesterol, saysBibhu Mohanty, M.D., a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of South Florida. “If you drop your bad cholesterol, things will imp...
HDL vs. LDL Cholesterol Natural Ways to Increase HDL Cholesterol It’s a very common misconception that cholesterol is generally bad and high levels are always cause for serious concern. However, there is a type of cholesterol that’s not only good at higher levels, but also decreases your ri...
Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL, HDL, and other lipid components (fats). Your doctor will use your total cholesterol number when determining your risk for heart disease and how best to manage it. Cholesterol Test It might be surprising to some people, but cholesterol testing...