Is "good" cholesterol good for you?

New research questions the role of medications in increasing HDL, but still recommends lifestyle measures to increase HDL.

One of the foundations of a healthy heart life is that if your LDL cholesterol is high, you need to take steps to lower it. After all, bad cholesterol can cause clogged arteries. On the other hand, doctors also encourage us to increase our HDL ("good") cholesterol. This is because people with high HDL are less likely to develop heart disease.

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Following the discovery of a recent Harvard study, the HDL story has become more complex. The researchers pooled health information from more than 116,000 people who had a genetic predisposition to produce higher than normal levels of high-density lipoprotein. Surprisingly, the risk of a heart attack in this group of patients was not reduced by 13%, which weakened the rationale for prescribing drugs to increase HDL.

"The results of the study show that just because the intervention will increase HDL cholesterol, we cannot assume that the risk of heart attack will be reduced," the doctor said. Affiliate of Massachusetts Hospital

Fortunately, a heart-healthy lifestyle that tends to increase high-density lipoprotein and decrease low-density lipoprotein can still benefit us. This is what new scientific discoveries mean to you.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is considered healthy because it transports fats from the arteries to the liver for processing or recycling. People with HDL levels above 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) tend to have a lower risk of heart disease. Not without reason, doctors and scientists hypothesize that an intentional increase in HDL will further reduce the risk of heart disease — just like lowering bad cholesterol.

Several clinical trials have tested new drugs that increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but the results so far have been disappointing. There are currently several medications that can be used to increase HDL. However, the ultimate benefit of doing so remains unclear - especially when compared to the apparent benefits of using statins to lower LDL.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol forms fatty deposits (plaques) in the coronary arteries, which can lead to heart attacks. HDL removes cholesterol from the blood and transports it to the liver for processing or recycling.

Rethinking HDL Drugs

The drugs have potential side effects and are not free, so when research destroys a drug's usefulness, doctors may reconsider its use. The doctor said.

When scientists discover whether medications need to be used to increase HDL, you should continue to pay attention to your HDL. If it's low, take the usual measures to improve it, such as increasing exercise, quitting smoking, losing weight, and eating a diet rich in vegetables. Increasing your HDL levels through a healthy lifestyle will reap the benefits. “High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a good indicator of successful disease prevention strategies,” said Dr. Eric B., a senior member of the team involved in genetic research and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

In addition, there was no change in LDL cholesterol. High LDL levels increase the risk of a heart attack, and lowering LDL levels can reduce this risk. For every 40 mg/dL decrease in LDL, the heart rate will be reduced by 19%.

The dream of improving HDL treatment is still alive, and a large clinical trial is now underway. At the same time, targeting low-density lipoproteins still provides your rewards with a heart-healthy "blast."

How to increase the level of good cholesterol in the blood

Exercise more: Strenuous exercise is best for increasing HDL ("good") cholesterol, but any additional exercise is better than none.

Weight loss: If you are overweight, losing 5% to 10% of your current weight may increase HDL while lowering blood pressure and blood sugar.

Avoid trans fats: Not eating these artificial fats — found in hard margarine, many baked goods, and fried fast foods — will increase your HDL cholesterol. Reducing intake can also help lower bad cholesterol (LDL).

Reducing refined carbohydrates: switching from refined carbohydrates (such as white bread) to whole grains