I recently had my cholesterol checked. My total was 297, but my HDL was 216. Good or bad?

Question

I can't find anything on HDL that high. My family has a history of high cholesterol, and lives very long healthy lives.

Answer 1

I can't say that an HDL of 216 is impossible, but I sure have never heard of it. The highest I've heard is around 100.

In theory, such a high HDL means you have almost a 1:1 "clean-up" crew. HDL is like the maid service in your arteries...running around cleaning up after the sloppy tenants (your total Chol). That's why the higher the ratio of HDL to TChol, the easier it is for the "maids" to keep the rooms (your arteries) clean.

That being said, I'd still talk to your doctor about it. Also there are other aspects of cholesterol that are assuming more and more importance in the study of heart risk. You don't mention what they are, so I can't really determine your risk. It's interesting though.

Answer 2

I have never seen an HDL that high. Make sure it is not the LDL that high. The LDL is the bad cholesterol, with a goal of less than 100 ( less than 70 if you have heart disease). HDL is good cholesterol, the higher the better. If yours is that high, you might have the world record.

Answer 3

If your HDL is 216, then plan to get a heart attack when your 354. Jeez!!! Good for you!

I've never seen an HDL that high. And I've run a lot of them. Usually they peak out at about 60 - 70.

Answer 4

HDL of 216 is not likely...machine error possibly.

Answer 5

Are'nt you confusing your HDL with LDL ? HDL too high seems impossible thing. Please check it again or get checked out by another laboratory.

Answer 6

http://www.healthmyths.net/colpo.html


THIS is the link of the first one