HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) Blood Test

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.

HDL levels lower than 40 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered worrisome, and levels higher than 60 mg/dL are considered excellent. If HDL level is higher than 60 mg/dL, cholesterol of this type performs barrier function. At the same time, HDL levels below 40mg /dL among men and below 50 mg/dL among women are the symptom of (indicate, point to) metabolic syndrome, which in its turn, is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

How long does it take to raise HDL?

Exercise helps increase levels of HDL good cholesterol. While exercise regimens varied among different studies, on average the subjects in these studies exercised for 40 minutes, three to four times per week. Effect on HDL level was measured after eight to 27 weeks. Across the studies, participants had increases in HDL cholesterol averaging about 2.5 mg/dL. Perhaps the most interesting finding is the observation that it was the duration of exercise sessions—and not the frequency or intensity of exercise—that best correlated with increased HDL levels. The investigators reported that in research subjects exercising for at least 20 minutes, each additional 10-minute increase in exercise duration was associated with an additional 1.4 mg/dL of HDL.