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What Are Good LDL & HDL Levels?

Knowing your risk for health problems is important. When it comes to protecting your heart, knowing your HDL and LDL levels, and what those levels mean to your overall health, are key.

  1. Identification

    • Your HDL number represents your high-density lipoprotein level. This is your good cholesterol. Your LDL number represents your low-density lipoprotein level. This is your bad cholesterol.

    Significance

    • These numbers let you know how much good cholesterol is available to help carry fat away from vital parts of your body and how much bad cholesterol is already doing harm by carrying fat to vital parts of your body.

    Potential

    • The best number for HDL is over 60 milligrams per deciliter of blood (abbreviated as mg/dL) for men and over 50 mg/dL for women; the best for LDL is under 100 mg/dL for both men and women. While being under on HDL and over on LDL doesn't guarantee danger, you do want to be concerned about an HDL level under 40 mg/dL or an LDL level over 190 mg/dL. These can be dangerous.

    Warning

    • If your HDL level is too low and/or your LDL level is too high, you can be at risk for major health issues such as heart attack or stroke. Those with diabetes, those who are obese or those who smoke can be at an even greater risk.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Getting regular exercise, avoiding first- and second-hand smoke, eating right and losing weight can all help you keep your HDL and LDL numbers at healthy levels.

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