HDL Cholesterol Direct Serum Test

Hdl Test Overview

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is a form of cholesterol also known as "good cholesterol" that lowers the risk of heart diseases and strokes. HDL helps to remove the LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) from the blood thus opening up the clogged arteries for better blood flow. HDL test is thus a blood test that indicates the lipoprotein levels in the blood. HDL levels are often used to predict the risk of cardiac diseases.

HDL Cholesterol is a test that helps to measure the amount of cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins in your blood. HDL-C is known as good cholesterol. This is because it is indicative of better cardiovascular health. LDL is known as the bad type of cholesterol. It is often associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

HDL-C test is performed to assess your cardiovascular health and risk of heart disease. Usually, a doctor will advise you to get HDL-C and total cholesterol measured together. It helps the doctor understand the relative proportion of good and bad cholesterols in the blood. An HDL-C test can help in screening, diagnosing and monitoring issues that may be affecting your heart, blood circulation and blood vessels.

Who Should get tested for HDL Cholesterol?

Every four to six years, persons aged 20 and above should have their cholesterol levels examined. For those who are more at risk, an HDL test may be performed as part of a routine checkup. Some risk factors include:

• Heart condition
• Diabetes
• Familial heart disease history
• Elevated blood pressure
• Men and women over the age of 45
• Women that are above 55
• Routine smoking
• Consumption of tobacco
• Having a cardiac condition or a history of heart attacks

The amount of HDL cholesterol may also be checked to see the outcome of medical interventions or to determine whether dietary, physical activity, or smoking cessation improvements are useful in bringing down cholesterol levels.