HIGH HDL CHOLESTEROL CAN HELP OVERALL LIPID LEVELS

It may surprise many people, but high HDL cholesterol is actually a good thing! To understand why, it's necessary to know what cholesterol is, and the differences between the two different types.

There are two main types of cholesterol each with very different roles to play:

LDL: Low Density Lipoproteins. These transport cholesterol from the liver, where it is made, to all the cells in the body. LDL is also known as "bad" cholesterol. HDL: High Density Lipoproteins.  These transport excess cholesterol back to the liver to be disposed of. These are thus also known as "good" cholesterol.

High HDL cholesterol is therefore a good thing, because increased levels mean that the body is better able to rid itself of excess cholesterol. Thus if a blood test shows high HDL cholesterol it is usually a cause for celebration, not a cause for concern. Indeed, the higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower risk of developing heart disease.

So how do you know what these levels are? They are evaluated from a blood test, and the doctor will look at HDL either as a percent of total cholesterol or as a measured value. As a percent, if HDL is 20% of total cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is average. If it is over 20% of total cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is less than average. Test results usually express this as a ratio of cholesterol to HDL - thus the desirable range for cholesterol/HDL is 5 or less.

Alternatively you may see a measurement (mmol/L) rather than a percentage. The results are interpreted as follows:

HDL less than 1.0 mmol/L in men or less than 1.2 mmol/L in women, there is an increased risk of heart disease. HDL greater than 1.0 mmol/L for men and greater than 1.2mmol/L for women, there is an average risk of heart disease. HDL of 1.5 mmol/L or more means a less than average risk of heart disease.

By measuring LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels, doctors can get a good indication of your risk of heart disease. Doctors may request this to be tested in people who have one or more risk factors for heart disease. These risk factors include:

• Cigarette smoking - increases cholesterol levels
• Age (men over 45 year and women over 55 years)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure). This includes anyone with blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, or who is taking medications for high blood pressure
• Excessive alcohol consumption - increases cholesterol level
• Obesity - increases cholesterol levels
• Diabetes

If your blood tests reveal elevated levels of LDL, your doctor will want to take action. When excessive amounts of LDL are produced by the body, the system becomes overloaded and we are unable to clear them from the blood. As a result, they build up in your arteries, causing narrowing or hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), which increases the chances of heart attacks and strokes.

As you can see, most of these are lifestyle related, meaning that by taking positive action you can make changes that will reduce your risk of heart disease. Losing weight, quitting smoking, drinking less, taking more exercise, and most crucially, reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet, will all help to lower the LDL in your blood.