UAB Medicine News
Back
Raise your Good Cholesterol for Heart Health
You hear it all the time – lower your cholesterol to increase your heart health. And yes, lowering your cholesterol is an important step to decreasing your risk for heart attack and stroke. But it may be just as important to RAISE your GOOD cholesterol to maintain a healthy lifestyle and strong heart.
UAB cardiologist Vera Bittner, M.D., MSPH, says that the terms “good” and “bad” cholesterol actually refer to the particles that move cholesterol through the bloodstream. “Cholesterol contained in LDL particles contributes to hardening of the arteries and is thus often termed ‘bad’ cholesterol,” she says. “HDL particles transport cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver and thus the cholesterol contained in HDL particles is often termed ‘good’ cholesterol.”
Understanding how cholesterol affects your body is important in learning to control it. “Many studies show that people with high ‘good’ cholesterol have less coronary artery disease than people with low ‘good’ cholesterol,” Bittner says. “Some studies suggest that raising ‘good’ cholesterol with medications may help decrease heart disease.”
As with many health issues, the best ways to raise your good cholesterol are to exercise, quit smoking and to lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Also, avoiding trans fats in the diet can help. Trans fats are made when food manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil and can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.
“Some medications increase good cholesterol as well – the one that is most often used is niacin,” Bittner says.
Talk to your doctor and get a cholesterol test to see where your LDL and HDL levels are. And for more information on good and bad cholesterol, visit the American Heart Association.
UAB cardiologist Vera Bittner, M.D., MSPH, says that the terms “good” and “bad” cholesterol actually refer to the particles that move cholesterol through the bloodstream. “Cholesterol contained in LDL particles contributes to hardening of the arteries and is thus often termed ‘bad’ cholesterol,” she says. “HDL particles transport cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver and thus the cholesterol contained in HDL particles is often termed ‘good’ cholesterol.”
Understanding how cholesterol affects your body is important in learning to control it. “Many studies show that people with high ‘good’ cholesterol have less coronary artery disease than people with low ‘good’ cholesterol,” Bittner says. “Some studies suggest that raising ‘good’ cholesterol with medications may help decrease heart disease.”
As with many health issues, the best ways to raise your good cholesterol are to exercise, quit smoking and to lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Also, avoiding trans fats in the diet can help. Trans fats are made when food manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil and can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.
“Some medications increase good cholesterol as well – the one that is most often used is niacin,” Bittner says.
Talk to your doctor and get a cholesterol test to see where your LDL and HDL levels are. And for more information on good and bad cholesterol, visit the American Heart Association.
Produced by UAB Medicine Marketing Communications (learn more about our content).
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
-
Heart Valve Disease Symptoms Often are Undetected or Dismissed
-
ICU Nurse Tells UAB’s COVID-19 Story As No One Else Can
-
UAB Cardiovascular Institute Earns Quality and Performance Awards for 2021
-
State License Now Required for Genetic Counselors in Alabama
-
How to Celebrate 2021 Donate Life Month
-
Celebrating Easter Safely During COVID-19
-
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week 2021
-
COVID Fatigue? Learn How to Manage the Effects
-
Pandemic Response Helps UAB Earn No. 1 Spot on Forbes List of Best Large Employers
-
From Medellín to Medicine: Optometrist Marcela Frazier Built a Practice that Honors Her Heritage