Cholesterol is a type of fat found in all cells in the body and transported throughout the body in the blood. It is produced by the liver and most cells in the body. It is also found in some foods.
Cholesterol is essential for the body to function because it plays an important role in building cells, producing certain hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, helping metabolism, and producing acids needed to help the body digest fats and absorb important nutrients.
HDL cholesterol is considered “good” cholesterol, so higher levels of this cholesterol are actually better. HDL carries excess “bad” cholesterol back to the liver, where it is broken down and filtered out of the body.
LDL cholesterol is considered bad cholesterol, because excess amounts can build up on artery walls, forming atherosclerotic plaques that narrow the arteries and make them harden. This can lead to blockages in the arteries, preventing blood flow to vital organs. If this happens in the major blood vessels supplying the heart, you will have a heart attack. In the brain, you will have a stroke.
What happens when good cholesterol is high and is it dangerous?
Very high HDL cholesterol levels do not protect you more. Even moderately high levels do not protect you if you have certain health problems or unhealthy lifestyle habits. Good cholesterol can start to act like bad cholesterol and increase your risk of heart and blood vessel disease.
People with “good cholesterol” levels above 60 mg/dL are nearly 50% more likely to have a heart attack or die from heart disease than people with HDL levels between 41 and 60 mg/dL.
People with very high HDL levels (above 80 mg/dL for men or 100 mg/dL for women) had a higher risk of death from heart and blood vessel problems and all other causes.
In people who had already had a heart attack and had high levels of a blood protein that signals inflammation, HDL levels above 60 mg/dL increased the risk of other heart and blood vessel problems.
Older adults with HDL cholesterol levels above 80 mg/dL were found to have a 27% higher risk of developing dementia.
So, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is often called “good cholesterol” because it helps your body get rid of excess cholesterol. But if your HDL cholesterol level is very high or you have certain other health conditions, it may lose its protective effect.
