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Low HDL Vs. Low LDL

There are times when people need to take precautions and make lifestyle changes to improve overall health. Cholesterol test numbers can reveal that it's time to make these changes.

  1. Identification

    • Everyone has two types of cholesterol, their HDL and their LDL. This these are the 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol.

    Significance

    • The 'good' cholesterol, or HDL, takes fatty deposits away from your arteries, which helps overall health. The 'bad' cholesterol, or LDL, puts fatty deposit into arteries, which harms overall health.

    Potential

    • Low HDL and low LDL are different. You want a low LDL, but not a low HDL. Test reports show cholesterol levels in milligrams per deciliter of blood. A low LDL level is below 100 mg/dL. A low HDL level is below 40 mg/dL.

    Warning

    • Low LDL will help protect you against heart attack or stroke. On the other hand, low HDL will raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

    Prevention/Solution

    • People can help keep LDL low and raise HDL numbers by eating fewer unhealthy fats, being moderately active for 30 minutes per day most days of the week, cutting out smoking and getting their weight into a healthy range.

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