Is “Good” Cholesterol Really “Good”?
For years, doctors thought that to prevent heart disease, patients should pay attention to both the low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol and the high-density medication lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol. The good, they assumed, could counteract the bad. Some experts are now questioning whether high levels of the “good” cholesterol are always healthy.
An LDL level below 100 is optimal, 100 to 129 is near or above optimal, and above 130 is high (even these standards are becoming stricter). The average HDL level for men is 40 to 50 mg/dl and for women 50 to 60 mg/dl. Even when HDL levels are much higher, the LDL can overpower the HDL. Some experts have concluded that HDL levels should play a minor role in decisions as to whether to prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A high HDL level might not create a total immunity to heart disease. Some people have high levels of HDL, but it does not function properly; these patients may be vulnerable to heart disease. In summary, no one should ignore high levels of LDL.
