HDL cholesterol
and Eva Rudolf-Müller, doctorValeria Dahm is a freelance writer in the medical department. She studied medicine at the Technical University of Munich. It is particularly important to her to give the curious reader an insight into the exciting subject area of medicine and at the same time to maintain the content.
More about the expertsEva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is a specific transport molecule for cholesterol in the blood. It is also considered good cholesterol because, unlike LDL, it does not cause hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Read more about the meaning and role of HDL cholesterol and about the normal measured values in the blood here!
What is HDL Cholesterol?
HDL cholesterol is a high density (HDL = "high density lipoprotein") transport system for cholesterol in the blood. It transports cholesterol from the body's cells to the liver, where the blood fat can be broken down. HDL is also able to remove excess cholesterol that has been stored in the vessel walls. HDL cholesterol protects against "hardening of the arteries" (arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis) and is therefore often referred to as good cholesterol.
Dangerous consequences of arteriosclerosis are circulatory disorders in various tissues and organs, for example coronary heart disease (the basis for heart attack) and stroke.
When is HDL cholesterol determined?
The HDL value is determined when the doctor wants to assess the risk of arteriosclerosis and especially coronary heart disease (CHD). This risk is increased if the HDL cholesterol is too low.
In addition, the HDL blood level is determined to monitor the success of a fat-lowering therapy (for example through diet or medication).
HDL cholesterol: normal values
To measure HDL cholesterol, the doctor will take a blood sample. Since fat enters the blood through the ingestion of food, the blood sample should be taken on an empty stomach, at least for the first determination. Excessive consumption of high-fat foods or alcohol in the days before should also be avoided, as it can falsify the results. According to today's experts, follow-up checks in particular can also take place without sobriety.
|
Age or gender |
Normal HDL cholesterol levels |
|
Newborn |
22 - 89 mg / dl |
|
baby |
13 - 53 mg / dl |
|
Toddlers |
22 - 89 mg / dl |
|
women |
45 - 65 mg / dl |
|
men |
35 - 55 mg / dl |
For the sake of simplicity, one can remember: the blood concentration of HDL cholesterol in women should be at least 45 mg / dl, in men 40 mg / dl.
In addition to the HDL cholesterol, the doctor also determines the total cholesterol and the “bad” LDL cholesterol. It also calculates the LDL-HDL quotient (target: <3) and / or the total cholesterol-HDL quotient (target: <4.5). With these values, the doctor can estimate the risk of arteriosclerosis even better.
How can I increase HDL cholesterol?
If the HDL is too low, there is a need for action. Patients with other risk factors for atherosclerosis, in particular, should have a high HDL cholesterol. These include diabetes mellitus, congenital fat metabolism disorders and obesity (obesity).
A change in lifestyle has proven to be the primary measure. Special attention is paid to a healthy body weight - excess kilos should be lost through regular exercise and sport. A balanced and healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is also advisable. It should be low in saturated fat, as these can raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. Since animal products such as butter or sausage primarily contain saturated fatty acids, their consumption should be the exception.
Refraining from nicotine also causes the HDL blood level to rise. If these basic measures do not work, cholesterol-lowering drugs are also used, but their influence on HDL cholesterol is less than that on LDL cholesterol.
What if your HDL cholesterol is too high?
Only in the rarest of cases is the HDL cholesterol too high. If so, that doesn't necessarily have to be a good thing: There is a controversial debate as to whether an excess of HDL cholesterol (as well as a deficiency) increases the risk of heart attacks.
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