What does LDL and HDL do in our bodies and with cholesterol?

LDL is also called “bad” cholesterol because it blocks your blood vessels and increases your risk for heart disease. HDL is considered “good” cholesterol because it helps protect you from heart disease. The higher your HDL, the better. Total cholesterol also includes a triglyceride count.

What’s the difference between HDL and LDL?

There are two types: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). As a general rule, HDL is considered “good” cholesterol, while LDL is considered “bad.” This is because HDL carries cholesterol to your liver, where it can be removed from your bloodstream before it builds up in your arteries.

Which cholesterol reading is most important?

LDL is the number most doctors and heart health programs focus on in particular, says Mosca. “Every single point of LDL decrease makes a difference,” she says. “If your LDL is at 140 and you get it down to 130, that’s great, even if you haven’t reached optimum levels yet.”

What if my HDL and LDL are both high?

Thyroid problems. Thyroid hormones help your body make and break down cholesterol. People whose thyroid gland is underactive, a condition called hypothyroidism, have higher levels of both HDL and LDL cholesterol.

What is cholesterol and why is it important?

Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance that helps your body make cell membranes, many hormones, and vitamin D. The cholesterol in your blood comes from two sources: the foods you eat and your liver. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs.

What do high HDL levels mean?

For HDL cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol, higher levels are better. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as the “good” cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

Why is it called HDL and LDL?

HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. 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.

Which cholesterol is most important?

Why is triglyceride HDL ratio important?

Many doctors and researchers are finding the triglyceride/HDL ratio to be one of the better predictors of heart disease. Research has shown that people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL “good” cholesterol has 16 times the risk of heart attack as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL.

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