What is HDL Cholesterol? Everything You Need to Know
HDL cholesterol is often known as ‘good’ cholesterol because it plays a key role in removing bad cholesterol from the body. Generally, higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease, reducing the risk of conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
Below, we explore what HDL cholesterol is in further detail, providing insights into its three main roles in the body as well as what is considered a good HDL cholesterol range.
What is HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol?
HDL cholesterol stands for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A lipoprotein is a small parcel of lipid (fat) and protein. High-density lipoproteins contain lots of protein and little fat, which is why they are known as 'dense'. Low-density (LDL) cholesterol, on the other hand, contains lots of fat and very little protein. As a guide, HDL cholesterol carries around a quarter of the cholesterol in your blood, while the majority of the rest is carried in LDL or bad cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol is often considered ‘good’ cholesterol because HDL lipoproteins play a vital role in transporting excess cholesterol away from blood vessels to the liver, where they can be removed from the body.
What are the main roles of HDL cholesterol?
HDL cholesterol has three main roles in the body:
- Removing excess cholesterol – HDL cholesterol removes excess cholesterol from blood vessels and other tissues and transports it back to the liver, where it can be recycled or removed from the body.
- Acting as an anti-inflammatory – HDL cholesterol has anti-inflammatory properties and helps protect your artery walls from the damaging effects of bad cholesterol.
- Acting as an antioxidant – HDL cholesterol has antioxidant effects, helping to protect cells and important chemicals in the blood and tissues from being broken down.
Is HDL cholesterol good?
HDL cholesterol is often described as ‘good’ because HDL lipoproteins play a protective role against heart and blood vessel diseases by removing bad cholesterol from the body and having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, it’s important to understand that cholesterol is not itself protective, as it is just a type of fat. Once cholesterol is combined with proteins, it forms an HDL lipoprotein, which does have protective qualities.
How can I test my cholesterol levels?
A simple blood test can test your cholesterol levels, providing insights into your total cholesterol and your HDL cholesterol range.
A trained health assessment specialist will use a small needle to take a blood sample from a vein in your arm. Once the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a test tube, which is then sent to a lab for testing. The whole process typically takes less than five minutes.
At Bluecrest Wellness, a private cholesterol blood test is included in all of our health MOTs to provide you with information about your total and HDL cholesterol levels alongside comprehensive insights into your overall health.
Private health assessments for complete peace of mind
At Bluecrest Wellness, we are committed to offering affordable, convenient, and accessible health assessments to provide you with vital insights into your general health.
Our full-body health assessment packages are designed to provide comprehensive insights and include a range of key blood tests, as well as important metrics like your blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol levels.
All our health MOTs use the latest technologies to ensure accurate results and can be booked at a time and location that’s convenient for you. In addition, every full health assessment comes with a comprehensive Results Report and free access to a 24/7 GP helpline for a year for complete peace of mind following your health assessment.
