HDL vs LDL: Understand Your Cholesterol and Protect Your Heart Health

When you have a routine blood test to check your cholesterol (often called a cholesterol panel or lipid panel), you don’t just get one number back. Your results usually list total cholesterol along with several other values, like HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and sometimes ratios. Two of the most important numbers are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). 

You may have heard HDL called the “good” cholesterol and LDL the “bad” cholesterol, but what do those names actually mean, and how worried should you be if one of those numbers is off? The truth is, you don’t have to become a heart expert to understand your numbers. If you know the basic difference between HDL and LDL, you’ll already be miles ahead in understanding your heart health and what to do next.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance your body actually needs. It helps:

• Build and repair cells
• Make hormones like estrogen and testosterone
• Produce vitamin D and bile acids to digest fats

Without enough cholesterol, your body couldn’t build healthy cells, make key hormones, or digest fats properly.

Cholesterol cannot float alone in your bloodstream either, your body “packages” it with proteins into little particles called lipoproteins. HDL and LDL are two of the main types. Cholesterol itself isn't bad. The way it’s carried in your blood and where it ends up is what matters for your heart.

HDL vs LDL at a Glance

Here’s a simple side-by-side look before we dive deeper:

A simple way to remember is:

• LDL can lay down cholesterol along the artery walls.
• HDL helps haul away extra cholesterol so it doesn’t stick around and cause issues.

What Is LDL Cholesterol? (the “Bad” Kind)

When LDL levels are high, extra cholesterol can start to:

• Settle into the walls of your arteries
• Form plaque (a mix of cholesterol, fats, and inflammatory cells)
• Narrow and stiffen arteries over time (atherosclerosis)

This process makes it harder for blood and oxygen to reach your heart, brain, and other organs, raising your risk for:

• Heart attack
• Stroke

• Peripheral Artery Disease

For most adults, LDL cholesterol is grouped as:

• Less than 100 mg/dL: Optimal for most people
• 100–129 mg/dL: Near optimal
• 130–159 mg/dL: Borderline high
• 160–189 mg/dL: High
• 190 mg/dL and above: Very high

Your personal target may be lower if you’ve already had a heart event, have diabetes or have multiple risk factors. If you’d like a deeper, LDL-focused article, see our "How to Lower LDL Cholesterol: A Complete Guide to the ‘Bad’ Cholesterol” piece, it goes step-by-step into causes, ranges and treatment options.

What Is HDL Cholesterol (the “Good” Kind)?

When HDL levels are in a healthy range, they help your body by:

• Picking up extra cholesterol from your bloodstream and artery walls
• Carrying that extra cholesterol back to the liver
• Allowing the liver to process it and remove it from the body

This “cleanup” process helps keep cholesterol from building up in your arteries and supports healthier blood flow, which is why good HDL levels are linked with a lower risk of:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Other forms of heart disease

For most adults, HDL cholesterol is grouped as:

• Men: Below 40 mg/dL is considered low
• Women: Below 50 mg/dL is considered low
• In general: 60 mg/dL or higher is considered “protective”

It’s important to know that more isn’t always better. Very high HDL (often above 100 mg/dL) may not offer extra protection and can sometimes be linked to other issues. However, for most people, the challenge is too little HDL, not too much—so building habits that support healthy HDL levels is still an important part of heart health.

Balancing HDL & LDL Matters

You may ask, If I have good HDL, can it cancel out bad LDL? The short answer to this is: not completely.

Ideally, you want:

• LDL low enough that it’s not constantly laying down plaque
• HDL high enough to help sweep away extra cholesterol

Your provider will look at:

• LDL
• HDL
• Total cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• Sometimes ratios (like total cholesterol ÷ HDL)

They also factor in things like:

• Your age and sex
• Blood pressure
• Smoking status
• Diabetes or prediabetes
• Family history of heart disease

Two people with the same LDL number may have very different levels of risk based on everything else surrounding it. That’s why a conversation with a doctor is so important; numbers alone don’t give the full picture

How to Raise HDL and Lower LDL

You don’t have to live in the gym or give up every favorite food to start improving your cholesterol. The same handful of different habits tend to help both raise HDL and lower LDL over time. This includes:

• Eating more heart-healthy foods

• Eating less fried, fast, or highly processed foods

• Moving your body regularly

• Managing stress

If you’re ready for a more structured plan, try our simple 7 day plan to lower your cholesterol. Or, for more practical ideas you can start today, see our guide to 6 habits for a healthy heart.

When to See a Doctor About Your Cholesterol

You don’t have to wait for something to be “wrong” to talk with a doctor about your cholesterol. Checking in early is one of the best ways to prevent problems before they start. Still, there are times when it’s especially important to reach out, especially if you:

• Just had lab work that showed high LDL, low HDL, or high triglycerides
• Have a family history of heart disease or stroke
• Live with high blood pressure, diabetes, or prediabetes
• Aren’t sure what your numbers mean or how often you should be checked

Seeing a doctor gives you the chance to look at the whole picture, your cholesterol numbers, blood pressure, family history, lifestyle, and symptoms. This can help you turn all of that into a clear, realistic plan for protecting your heart.

At your visit, your doctor can:

• Explain what each number means
• Help you set healthy targets for LDL, HDL, and triglycerides based on your personal risk
• Decide whether lifestyle changes alone are enough, or whether you might also benefit from medication or further testing
• Map out a follow-up plan so your cholesterol and heart health are monitored over time

Heart Care for Patients in Queens & Brooklyn

You don’t have to manage your cholesterol alone. At Advanced Medical Care, we help patients throughout Queens and Brooklyn:

• Make sense of their cholesterol numbers
• Identify personal risk factors for heart disease and stroke
• Create practical, sustainable plans to improve their heart health

Our experienced cardiologists and internal medicine specialists offer:

• EKGs and Echocardiograms
• Stress Echo and Nuclear Stress Testing
• Carotid Doppler and Event Loop Monitoring
• Personalized prevention and treatment plans for cholesterol and heart disease

If you’re concerned about your HDL, LDL, overall heart risk or simply want to be proactive, give us a call at 347-571-9389 (Queens) or 929-552-2973 (Brooklyn) to schedule an appointment, or book online to get started.

Your heart deserves expert care, and so do you.

If you’re noticing possible warning signs but aren’t sure what they mean, our post on warning signs of an underlying heart problem can help you know what to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions About HDL vs LDL Cholesterol

Is LDL always “bad” and HDL always “good”?

Not exactly. Your body needs both types to function. LDL becomes a problem when there’s too much of it, because it can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. HDL helps clean up extra cholesterol, which is why higher HDL is usually a good thing. It’s the balance that matters most.

If my HDL is high, do I still need to worry about LDL?

Yes. A nice HDL number doesn’t erase the risks of a very high LDL. Your provider will usually focus on bringing LDL down while also helping you keep HDL in a healthy range.

Can lifestyle changes really move my cholesterol numbers?

Eating more fiber and healthy fats, moving your body regularly, not smoking, managing stress, and getting enough sleep can all help lower LDL and raise HDL over time. You don’t have to be perfect, consistent small steps matter.

How often should I have my cholesterol checked?

Many adults are checked about every 4–6 years, but you may need testing more often if you have risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, or a strong family history of heart disease. Your doctor can recommend a schedule that fits your health history.

Where should I start if my cholesterol is high?

A great starting point is to:

1. Talk with a doctor about your full risk picture
2. Make a few simple food and movement changes
3. Follow a short, structured plan to build momentum
   
   

   Schedule an appointment today

   Call us today at 347-571-9389 (Queens) or 929-552-2973 (Brooklyn) or book your appointment online to assess your cholesterol levels and heart risk.