HDL Cholesterol Guidelines

High density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are the "good" cholesterol. HDLs carry cholesterol in the blood from other parts of the body back to the liver, which leads to its removal from the body. HDL helps keep cholesterol from building up in the walls of the arteries. According to current HDL cholesterol guidelines, if your HDL cholesterol level is below 40 mg/dL, you are at a substantially higher risk for heart disease. Based on these cholesterol guidelines, you want your HDL levels to be as high as possible. In fact, an HDL cholesterol level of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease.

 

 

The average HDL cholesterol level for men is about 45 mg/dL; for women, it is about 55 mg/dL.