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What Is Low HDL?

Getting cholesterol checked and knowing if the HDL level is too low can help to spur healthy changes to diet and lifestyle. Low HDL can increase the risk of heart disease and possibly heart attack.

  1. Definition

    • HDL cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein. It is believed that HDL takes cholesterol from the arteries and brings it to the liver, so it can be eliminated from the body. It is also sometimes thought that HDL removes excess cholesterol from atherosclerotic plaques.

    Fun Fact

    • Because of its protection against heart attacks, HDL is also known as the good cholesterol.

    Danger Zone

    • Low levels of HDL can have a negative effect on the heart. Low HDL levels are anything less than 40 mg/dL for men or less than 50 mg/dL for women.

    Causes

    • HDL levels can decrease due to several factors, which include high glucose levels (diabetes); smoking; being overweight or obese; high triglyceride levels; unhealthy diet, such as consuming too much saturated fat or carbs; zero or little exercise; and some drugs, such as progestins and anabolic steroids.

      Low HDL can also come from mutations in the apolipoprotein A1 gene. A1 is a protein that is combined along with cholesterol in HDL, and mutations cause low apo A1 levels and low HDL levels, as well as an earlier risk of heart attack or stroke.

    Increase HDL

    • Only a few small changes can help raise good cholesterol levels. These changes include daily exercise, losing excess weight, stopping smoking, controlling blood-sugar levels and eating a healthy diet.

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