Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Taking HD Cholesterol Seriously
A reader asks: My LDL cholesterol is very well controlled, but my doctor says that my HDL cholesterol is too low. Does it really matter? Hopkins’s Dr. Roger S. Blumenthal answers …
Yes, it does. Several studies have found that people with low HDL cholesterol levels are at increased risk for heart attacks, even when LDL cholesterol is low.
For example, researchers recently examined the medical records of more than 4,000 people with very low LDL cholesterol levels -- less than 60 mg/dL. They found that participants with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels (28 mg/dL) were 59% more likely to have a heart attack or end up in the hospital with a heart-related problem than those with a healthy HDL cholesterol level (63 mg/dL).
In addition, every 10-mg/dL decrease in HDL cholesterol corresponded to a 10% increase in heart attacks or hospitalization. The results were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Boosting HDL cholesterol is important because it removes cholesterol from artery walls. HDL also appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that men and women aim for an HDL cholesterol level of 60 mg/dL or higher.
You can raise your HDL cholesterol through a combination of exercise, weight reduction, smoking cessation, and (if necessary) the use of niacin. Moderate alcohol consumption (one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men) also may be appropriate for some people.
Posted in Heart Health on April 16, 2010
Reviewed January 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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