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HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol
What are optimal levels of HDL?
Medications can boost or lower HDL
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What are optimal levels of HDL cholesterol?
Make your lifestyle count
Medications can boost or lower HDL cholesterol
What are optimal levels of HDL?
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood or millimoles (mmol) per liter (L). When it comes to HDL cholesterol, higher numbers are better.
| At risk | Desirable | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) | 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) or above |
| Women | Less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) | 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) or above |
People who have naturally higher levels of HDL cholesterol are at lower risk of heart attacks and stroke. However, it's less clear whether that same benefit holds true for people who increase their HDL levels with medications.
Interventions known to increase HDL have shown to lower the risk of heart attacks, like exercise, quitting smoking or improving the diet. However, medications that specifically increase HDL have failed to reduce the rate of heart attacks.
