What are LDL and HDL cholesterol?
Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called “lipoproteins.” Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body:
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease and stroke.
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, sometimes called “good” cholesterol, absorbs cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver. The liver then flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
When your body has too much LDL cholesterol, the LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your blood vessels. This buildup is called “plaque,” and it can cause health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
What are triglycerides?
Plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time. This process is called atherosclerosis.
Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy.
The combination of high levels of triglycerides with low HDL and/or high LDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk for health problems, such as heart attack.
Learn more about optimal blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
How do I lower my risk for high cholesterol and triglycerides?
You can work to prevent high cholesterol and triglycerides by reducing risk factors that are in your control. You can make healthy lifestyle decisions, such as choosing healthier foods with less saturated fat and quitting smoking.
If you already have high LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your health care team may recommend medicines that treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lifestyle changes to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
If you already have low HDL cholesterol levels, talk with your doctor about lifestyle changes that may help raise your levels.
Getting your cholesterol checked regularly is an important way of to stay in control of your cholesterol health. Work with your health care team on how often you should get screened.
More Information
CDC
- About Heart Disease
- About Stroke
- Aortic Aneurysm
- About High Blood Pressure
Other organizations
- MedlinePlus: Cholesterol
- American Heart Association (AHA):
- Cholesterol
- The Skinny on Fats
- Life’s Essential 8™: Your checklist for lifelong good health
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025
- Fats and Cholesterol
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): High Blood Cholesterol—What You Need to Know
LDL cholesterol is often called the “bad” cholesterol because it collects in the walls of your blood vessels, raising your chances of health problems like a
heart attack or stroke. But cholesterol isn't all dangerous. Your body needs it to protect its nerves and make healthy cells and hormones. Some
cholesterol comes from the food you eat, and your liver makes more. It won’t dissolve in blood, so proteins carry it where it needs to go. These carriers are called lipoproteins. LDL is a tiny blob made up of an outer rim of lipoprotein with a cholesterol
center. Its full name is "low-density lipoprotein." Most of the cholesterol in your body is LDL. The rest is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. HDL takes LDL to your liver, where it’s flushed out of your body. High HDL levels might protect against heart attacks
and strokes. A blood test can check your LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels. It also measures triglycerides, a type of fat that stores
extra energy from your diet. High triglyceride levels can make you more likely to have heart problems. Experts recommend testing every 4 to 6 years. You’ll probably need it more often if you have heart disease or
diabetes, or if high cholesterol runs in your family. Lower numbers are better when it comes to LDL cholesterol test results. The general guidelines for adults in the United States are: If you have a condition like heart disease or diabetes, your doctor might recommend an LDL target of 70 mg/dL or below.What Is LDL?
LDL vs. HDL
High LDL Cholesterol Diagnosis
High LDL
cholesterol levels can make you more likely to have problems including: Guidelines
used to focus on lowering "bad" cholesterol to a specific number. Now, you and your doctor will probably work together to come up with a way to lower it by a certain percentage. It's based on how likely it is that you’ll have heart disease or a stroke. Doctors use a calculator to estimate your odds of those problems in the next 10 years. The calculator considers several things, including: All of these things affect your chance of having a heart problem. Other risks include: Your doctor will set up a plan of lifestyle changes and/or medication that can lower your cholesterol
levels and your overall odds of a heart problem. Your plan might include:Risks of High LDL Cholesterol
How to Lower High LDL Cholesterol