*HDL Cholesterol is inversely related to the risk for cardiovascular disease.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or “good” cholesterol, is a lipid-protein molecule that absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver. The liver then metabolizes and eliminates the cholesterol from the body. Each molecule of HDL cholesterol is a microscopic blob that consists of a lipoprotein surrounding a cholesterol center.
The HDL cholesterol particle is dense compared to other types of cholesterol particles; that’s why it is called high-density.
A cholesterol test can help the physician determine the risk of the buildup of fatty plaques in a patient’s arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout the body, also known as atherosclerosis.
HDL cholesterol acts as a maintenance molecule for the endothelium of blood vessels. Damage to these inner walls is the first step in the process of atherosclerosis, which causes heart attacks and strokes.
This is a single-marker test measuring high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It can be used to determine cardiovascular disease risk.