Description of the blood Analysis:

HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) is widely known as “good cholesterol.” Unlike other lipoproteins that carry fat to your cells, HDL acts as a scavenger. It travels through the bloodstream, picks up excess cholesterol from your tissues and artery walls, and transports it back to the liver. Once in the liver, the excess cholesterol is broken down and eliminated from the body. High levels of HDL are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

What Does the Analysis Represent?

• Goal: To measure the amount of “protective” cholesterol in the blood and assess cardiovascular risk.
• Main Application: Determining the risk of heart attack or stroke, evaluating the effectiveness of lifestyle changes (like exercise), and calculating the total/HDL cholesterol ratio.
• Biological Process: It reflects the efficiency of reverse cholesterol transport—the body’s natural cleaning mechanism for the arteries.

Recommendations for the Test (General)

• Fasting: Mandatory. Fasting for 9–12 hours is required. While HDL itself doesn’t change much after a meal, the other fats in the lipid panel do, which can interfere with the laboratory’s accuracy.
• Stable Health: Do not take this test if you have had a high fever, a major infection, or a heart attack within the last 6 weeks, as these events can temporarily lower HDL levels.
• No Alcohol: Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test.
• Material: Venous blood (serum).

What Can Affect the Results?

• Physical Activity: Regular aerobic exercise (running, swimming, cycling) is one of the most effective ways to raise HDL levels.
• Smoking: Chemicals in cigarettes lower HDL levels, making the “cleaning” process less efficient.
• Diet: Consuming trans fats lowers HDL, while healthy fats (like those in olive oil or fatty fish) can increase it.
• Medications: Beta-blockers, anabolic steroids, and certain progestins can lower HDL levels.
• Weight: Being overweight often correlates with lower HDL levels.

When to Take the Test?

• Part of a Lipid Panel: It is almost always measured alongside Total Cholesterol, LDL, and Triglycerides.
• Risk Assessment: If you have high blood pressure or a family history of early heart disease.
• Diabetes Management: People with diabetes often have lower HDL and higher triglycerides, which increases heart risk.

How to Interpret the Results?

Important: A doctor must evaluate HDL as part of a complete lipid profile to assess your cardiovascular health. High HDL: Often called “good” cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream. Low HDL: May be associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease.

Possible Further Investigations

• LDL-Cholesterol: To see the “bad” cholesterol levels that HDL is trying to balance.
• Triglycerides: High triglycerides often occur when HDL is low, a combination that significantly raises heart risk.
• Apolipoprotein A-1: The primary protein found in HDL; measuring it can provide more detail on HDL’s protective capacity.
• Non-HDL Cholesterol: Calculated by subtracting HDL from Total Cholesterol; it represents all the “bad” types of cholesterol combined.

When Does the Next Step Make Sense? 

The next step is necessary if your HDL is low. Because low HDL doesn’t have “symptoms” you can feel, the blood test is the only warning. If your levels are low, a doctor will focus on lifestyle interventions—such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and increasing high-intensity exercise—to help raise this protective marker before heart issues develop.

👉 If necessary, you can discuss the results of the analysis with a specialist, such as a Cardiologist (Doctors – TAMC), Endocrinologist (Doctors – TAMC).