What is Cholesterol Test HDL?

The HDL cholesterol test measures the amount of cholesterol within the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in your blood sample.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that helps the cells in your body function properly. However, certain types of cholesterol that build up in your arteries can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, heart attack and other health problems.

Cholesterol Test HDL is often referred to as "good cholesterol" because it is associated with better cardiovascular health. In contrast, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is referred to as "bad cholesterol" because of its association with cardiovascular disease.

HDL cholesterol is almost always measured along with total cholesterol, and these two measurements are a core part of the lipid combination test. The combined lipid test is a common test that measures HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fat molecules called triglycerides.

What is the purpose of the cholesterol test HDL?

The purpose of testing HDL cholesterol is to assess your cardiovascular health, including your risk of heart disease. HDL cholesterol is considered a good type of cholesterol and is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease events.

By measuring both HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in the same blood sample, your doctor can easily calculate the ratio of HDL cholesterol to non-HDL cholesterol. This is important for assessing your cardiovascular health and gives your doctor an idea of the relative amounts of good and bad cholesterol.

Testing HDL cholesterol can play a role in screening, monitoring and diagnosing problems that affect your heart, blood vessels and blood circulation.

How does a cholesterol test HDL screen for problems?

Cholesterol Test HDL is the process of looking for health problems before any symptoms occur. The purpose of cardiovascular screening is to better address problems by identifying them at an early stage.

Cholesterol Test HDL is one of the most common ways to test for HDL cholesterol. For children and adults with no symptoms of cardiovascular problems, cholesterol levels can be checked regularly.

Low levels of HDL cholesterol have been linked to an increased risk of problems such as heart disease and stroke. It has also been linked to type 2 diabetes. For this reason, HDL cholesterol testing can be used for early detection of potentially serious health problems.

Based on an analysis of total, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, doctors can use special formulas to determine whether a patient's risk level is borderline, moderate or high.

Why is it necessary to track cholesterol test HDL levels over time?

In many cases, it is necessary to track cholesterol levels over time. This is called monitoring, and it is common to test HDL cholesterol at set intervals. The most common situations for monitoring HDL cholesterol over time include.

After a previous abnormal cholesterol test. If your previous cholesterol test showed low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol, you may have ongoing testing to monitor your blood lipid levels.

fter previous cardiovascular problems: If you have been diagnosed with heart disease or have had a heart attack in the past, cholesterol testing can be used as part of long-term monitoring of your health.

After starting treatment to reduce cardiovascular risk. Sometimes your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes or medications to improve your cholesterol levels, and ongoing testing can assess your response to prescribed treatment.

How is a cholesterol test HDL diagnosed?

Cholesterol testing is less often used for diagnosis, which is to determine the cause of a health problem after symptoms have begun.

If you have certain cardiovascular symptoms, your doctor may order a cholesterol test. HDL cholesterol levels are a consideration when diagnosing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors for diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disease. Cholesterol testing can also be involved in identifying some health problems that affect other organs.

What does a cholesterol test HDL measure?

The HDL cholesterol test analyzes a blood sample to see how much cholesterol is inside the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Cholesterol is transported in the blood through lipoproteins, which are made up of fats and proteins.

There are several types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol, including high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).

The cholesterol in LDL and VLDL particles can build up in the arteries and cause cardiovascular problems. In contrast, HDL particles transport cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body. Through this and other functions, HDL cholesterol helps prevent atherosclerosis and blockages.

In practice, almost all HDL cholesterol tests also measure total cholesterol, which is the sum of the cholesterol found in all the different types of lipoproteins. By subtracting HDL cholesterol from the total cholesterol

When should I get an HDL cholesterol test?

Whether an HDL cholesterol test is appropriate depends on your specific circumstances.

As a screening test, there are no universally agreed-upon recommendations regarding how often to measure cholesterol levels. In general, screening is started earlier for people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease at an earlier age. Ongoing cholesterol testing may occur more often in people with one or more of these risk factors.

People without an elevated risk for cardiovascular problems usually start screening at a later age and often have longer intervals between cholesterol tests.

Every individual should talk with their doctor about the most appropriate screening plan in their specific situation. An overview of common recommendations for cholesterol screening are listed in the table below:

DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP	RISK FACTORS	SCREENING FREQUENCY
Children	No risk factors	Once between ages 9-11; again between 17-21
Children	One or more	Every 1-3 years starting when risk factor is identified
Adolescents and Adults of Any Age	One or more	At least every 5 years; often more frequently based on specific risk factors
Males Age 20-45 Females Age 20-55	No risk factors	Every 4-6 years
Males Age 45-65 Females Age 55-65	No risk factors	Every 1-2 years
People Over 65	With or without risk factors	Annually

Screening is usually performed using a lipid panel, especially for initial testing. However, some screenings may be done with total cholesterol and HDL-C measurements only.

When used to monitor cholesterol over time, HDL cholesterol testing may be recommended if you have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. It is also important to track your cholesterol levels if you have had cardiovascular problems or abnormal cholesterol levels in the past. If you are receiving treatment for these problems, a repeat HDL cholesterol test can be used to monitor your response to treatment.

Although primarily used to detect cardiovascular problems, abnormal HDL cholesterol may occur in conjunction with other health problems affecting the thyroid, pancreas or liver. Therefore, cholesterol testing may be involved in the diagnostic process for a range of medical conditions.

How do I know what my cholesterol test HDL level is?

A blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including HDL. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:

For people who are age 19 or younger:

• The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
• Children should have the test again every 5 years
• Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke

For people who are age 20 or older:

• Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
• Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years

How do I get a cholesterol test HDL?

There are several different ways to your cholesterol test HDL levels.
Your doctor may prescribe a lab test, which involves taking a blood sample from a vein in your arm at a medical office or hospital.

Some clinics, doctors' offices, pharmacies and events such as health fairs also offer on-site cholesterol testing. The test is called an instant test, and it analyzes a drop of blood produced by pricking your fingertip with a very small needle.

You can also choose the more convenient at-home cholesterol test HDL

How do I take a cholesterol test HDL at home?

There are several options for home HDL cholesterol testing.

At-home self-tests involve a fingertip blood sample and provide results without sending the sample to a lab. In these self-tests, a drop of blood is placed on a special test strip. The test paper either changes color depending on your cholesterol level or is inserted into a small device that analyzes the blood.
Self-collection tests involve taking a fingertip blood sample at home and mailing it to a lab that measures HDL cholesterol levels.

Some home tests measure only total cholesterol and do not provide results for cholesterol test HDL. For this reason, it is important to review the test carefully to determine if it includes a measurement of Cholesterol Test HDL.

What is the cost of a cholesterol test HDL?

The price of a cholesterol test HDL is variable. Factors that may affect the cost of a cholesterol test include which measurements are included, where the blood sample is taken, and whether you have health insurance.

There may be a separate charge for your blood draw, office visit and lab analysis. In many cases, if your doctor recommends an HDL cholesterol test, these costs will be at least partially covered by your health insurance. You can check with your health care plan for information about costs, including deductibles or co-payments.

Some health clinics or pharmacies have established prices for instant cholesterol testing. In addition, instant tests are available for free or at low cost at community events such as health fairs.

Prices for home test kits vary widely. The cost of a device to analyze cholesterol from a single drop of blood can range from $150 to several hundred dollars.

Some tests allow you to purchase additional test strips if repeat testing is needed. The purchase of test strips is more suitable for people who want to test for a long period of time and multiple times.

How can I raise my cholesterol test HDL levels?

If your HDL levels are too low, lifestyle changes may help. These changes may also help prevent other diseases and make you feel better overall by:

Eat a healthy diet. To raise your HDL levels, you need to eat good fats instead of bad fats. This means limiting saturated fats, including whole milk and cheese, high-fat meats like sausage and bacon, and foods made with butter, lard and shortening. You should also avoid trans fats, which can be found in certain processed foods such as margarine, fried foods and baked goods. Instead, eat unsaturated fats, which are found in vegetable oils such as avocados, olive oil and nuts. Limit carbohydrates, especially sugar. Also try to eat more foods that are high in natural fiber, such as oatmeal and beans.

Maintain a healthy weight. You can raise your HDL levels by losing weight, especially if you have a lot of fat around your waist.

Exercise. Regular exercise can raise your HDL levels while lowering your LDL. You should try to get 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise most, if not all, days.

Avoid smoking. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can lower your HDL levels. If you are a smoker, seek help from your health care provider to find the best way for you to quit. You should also try to avoid secondhand smoke.

Limit your alcohol consumption. Moderate alcohol consumption may lower your HDL levels, although more research is needed to confirm this. What we do know is that too much alcohol can cause you to gain weight, which can lower your HDL levels.

Some cholesterol medications, including some statins, can raise your HDL levels in addition to lowering your LDL levels. Health care providers usually do not prescribe medications just to raise HDL. However, if your HDL level is low and your LDL level is high, you may need medication.

What else can affect my cholesterol test HDL levels?

Taking certain medications can lower HDL levels in some people. They include.
beta-blockers, a type of antihypertensive drug:

• Anabolic steroids, including testosterone, an androgen
• Progestins, which are female hormones found in some birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
• Benzodiazepines, which are commonly used as sedatives for anxiety and insomnia

If you are taking one of these and your HDL levels are very low, ask your provider if you should continue taking them.
Diabetes can also lower your HDL levels, providing you with another reason to control your diabetes.

References：

1. Cholesterol test - Mayo Clinic

2. Cholesterol Levels: MedlinePlus Medical Test

See also:

1. Cholesterol care