If HDL cholesterol rises that is fine, but it should not be the reason for drug therapy. Changes in lifestyle should be first on your list, since they do other wonderful things for the heart, bones, muscles, and psyche and have no harmful side effects. They include:. Taking an LDL-lowering statin can also improve HDL cholesterol, though you wouldn't start a statin for this purpose because the effect is small. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
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Recent Blog Articles. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? A family history of longevity is reassuring whereas a history of early cardiovascular disease may prompt a referral to a specialist and only they can decide if the high level of HDL cholesterol is relevant and decide whether other family members should be tested.
Japanese ancestry : some people with a Japanese ancestry have been found to have high HDL cholesterol levels due to a genetic deficiency of a protein CETP. Menopause : data from clinical research suggested that the benefits of having high HDL cholesterol are reduced during the menopause as a result of changes in hormone levels.
A study carried out by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Pittsburgh found the normal fall in oestrogen associated with the menopause changed the quality of HDL and its function, and increases in HDL during menopause were actually associated with greater plaque build up independent of other factors such as body weight and levels of LDL cholesterol.
They concluded that the quality and functionality of HDL particles may be altered during the menopausal transitional period, making it less effective in providing normal heart health benefits. Other findings have suggested that high HDL cholesterol levels may be harmful to kidney dialysis patients by worsening inflammation and tissue damage. In patients with high HDL cholesterol, lifestyle and diet should be modified and other traditional risk factors should be assessed and addressed, for example, obesity, high LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
More research is needed to fully evaluate HDL function and composition to help develop strategies to prevent and treat heart disease. Future research should study the effect of an intervention likely to improve HDL function, and how well the HDL particle is able to extract free cholesterol from cell rather than increasing circulating HDL cholesterol which has not been shown to be effective.
The HDL particle is a complex lipoprotein and any intervention should address is dynamics and functionality on multiple levels. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Continue Find out more. This area of our website is for healthcare professionals only Please click below to declare your professional status: YES, I am a healthcare professional NO, I am not a healthcare professional. HDL cholesterol. Current thinking Previous studies showed that lower levels of HDL cholesterol are an additional risk factor for CVD or heart attack and stroke and higher levels were seen to be more protective.
Back to the top. Smoking In cigarette smoke, a chemical called acrolein appears to interfere with the normal functioning of HDL by changing the structure of its protein, Apolipoprotein A1. Insulin resistance When the body contains too much stored fat, particularly around the waistline apple-shaped obesity , this interferes with the ability of insulin to regulate the blood sugar.
Genetic conditions Tangier disease is a very rare condition which causes complete absence or extreme deficiency of HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels are also usually reduced. Health care providers don't usually prescribe medicines only to raise HDL.
If you are taking one of these and you have a very low HDL level, ask your provider if you should continue to take them. Diabetes can also lower your HDL level, so that gives you another reason to manage your diabetes.
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is cholesterol? It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver.
Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body. LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. How do I know what my HDL level is? The general recommendations are: For people who are age 19 or younger: The first test should be between ages 9 to 11 Children should have the test again every 5 years Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke For people who are age 20 or older: Younger adults should have the test every 5 years Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years What should my HDL level be?
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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol. Products and services. HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol Your cholesterol levels are an important measure of heart health. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again.
Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references What is cholesterol? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed Oct. Good vs.
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