Exercising to Increase HDL
Exercise is one of the best ways to increase
HDL and lower
triglycerides (and the risk of
heart disease).
Cholesterol research studies have shown that the longer, harder, and more frequently a person exercises, the greater the increase in HDL. In general, exercise has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol 10 to 20 percent.
Quitting Smoking to Increase HDL
Smoking cigarettes decreases HDL and is a powerful risk factor for
heart disease. A recent study suggests that passive smoking (inhaling secondhand smoke) also decreases HDL. When a person stops smoking, HDL will rise and the risk for heart disease will decrease.
The Effect of Alcohol on Efforts to Increase HDL
Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation may increase HDL cholesterol (
good cholesterol) levels; however, it does not lower
LDL cholesterol (the "
bad cholesterol"). Research studies have shown that HDL can be increased by an average of 4.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) with moderate alcohol consumption.
Using Medications to Increase HDL
For many people trying to increase HDL, lifestyle changes are sufficient to raise HDL levels to a "normal" level.
A number of
cholesterol medications used to lower LDL ("bad cholesterol") can also increase HDL. Studies using statins have reported a modest 5 to 10 percent increase in HDL levels. Nicotinic acid has been shown to raise HDL levels by 15 to 35 percent. Fibrates have been shown to increase HDL by 10 to 15 percent.
The use of estrogen tends to increase HDL. This is one reason why it is thought that premenopausal women are protected from heart disease. In studies where women took estrogen, their HDL levels increased by up to 10 percent. However, estrogen is currently not a recommended treatment for improving HDL levels because of the increased risk for developing certain diseases and conditions
(see Hormone Replacement Therapy for more information).
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