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What Is a High HDL?

In addition to your levels of "bad" cholesterol, doctors also consider how much "good," or HDL (high-density lipoprotein), cholesterol you have in your bloodstream when determining your risk for heart disease and other complications associated with elevated LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels.

  1. Identification

    • A high level of HDL cholesterol is anything over 60 mg/dL, according to the American Heart Association.

    Function

    • HDL cholesterol removes LDL cholesterol deposits inside of your arteries and carries them to your liver, where they are removed from your bloodstream.

    Effects

    • Because it allows oxygen-rich blood to travel more freely through your body, having a high HDL level decreases your risk of developing heart disease, reports the American Heart Association.

    Considerations

    • HDL cholesterol removes about one-fourth or one-third of LDL cholesterol from your arteries, reports the American Heart Association. Although this is extremely beneficial, it may not be enough if your LDL cholesterol levels are too high, so you will still need to watch your diet and take medications to control your cholesterol levels.

    Sources

    • Losing weight helps increase HDL cholesterol levels because it affects your body mass index rating, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Omega-3 fatty acids, moderate use of alcohol and niacin also raise HDL levels.

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