Word parts
lip/o fatprotein protein
What it means
HDL is often called "good cholesterol" because higher levels are linked with lower heart disease risk. Exercise, not smoking and a healthy weight raise it.
Remember it
HDL is Healthy; LDL is Lousy.
At a glance
| Normal range | Men 40 mg/dL [1.0 mmol/L] or higher, women 50 mg/dL [1.3 mmol/L] or higher; 60 mg/dL [1.6 mmol/L] or higher is protective |
|---|---|
| Spanish | lipoproteína de alta densidad |
| Also written | HDL, HDL cholesterol, HDL-C, high-density lipoproteins |
Related terms
coronary artery disease
Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.
cholesterol
A waxy fat made by the liver and found in animal foods, which the body uses to build cells and hormones.
statin
A drug that lowers cholesterol by blocking an enzyme the liver uses to make it.