High Density Lipoproteins - Good Cholesterol Tag!

Good Cholesterol Tag!

HDL is called the "good cholesterol" because it protects the arteries from the atherosclerosis process. The process it adopts is that HDL cholesterol extracts cholesterol particles from the artery walls and transports them to the liver to be disposed through the bile. It also interferes with the accumulation of LDL cholesterol particles in the artery walls.

The risk of atherosclerosis and heart attacks in both men and women is strongly related to HDL cholesterol levels. Low levels of HDL cholesterol are linked to a higher risk, whereas high HDL cholesterol levels are associated with a lower risk.

Very low and very high HDL cholesterol levels are hereditary, genetic as well as lifestyle-related.

HDL cholesterol levels are lower in people who smoke, consume a lot of sweets, are overweight and inactive, and in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Oestrogen increases a person's HDL cholesterol, which explains why women generally have higher HDL levels than men do.