What is high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol?
Cholesterol appears in the blood in different forms. Usually people talk about the total cholesterol but there is LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is known as ‘bad’ cholesterol as it tends to clog blood vessels. When a blood cholesterol reading is high, it usually means that LDL levels are high. HDL cholesterol is sometimes called ‘good’ cholesterol and can actually help unclog the arteries. High HDL levels are a very good sign.
