HDL (Good), LDL (Bad) Cholesterol And Triglycerides

1. Home
2. Health Topics
3. Cholesterol
4. HDL, LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Play without Auto-Play

Cholesterol: The good and the bad

Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol to and from cells. One is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. The other is high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. A test measures the amount of each type of cholesterol in your blood.

LDL cholesterol

LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to fatty buildups in arteries (atherosclerosis). This narrows the arteries and increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and peripheral artery disease, or PAD.

What Does My LDL Number Mean? (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)

Why Should I Know My LDL Cholesterol? (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)

HDL cholesterol

HDL cholesterol can be thought of as the “good” cholesterol because a healthy level may help protect against heart attack and stroke.

HDL carries LDL (bad) cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where the LDL is broken down and passed from the body. But HDL cholesterol doesn't eliminate LDL cholesterol. Only a fraction of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. They store excess energy from your diet.

A high triglyceride level combined with high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol is linked with fatty buildups within the artery walls, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

View What is Cholesterol? (PDF) |Spanish (PDF)

Watch an animation about cholesterol.

Watch an animation about atherosclerosis.

Last Reviewed: Feb 19, 2024

Cholesterol

Cholesterol

• About Cholesterol
  • Atherosclerosis and ASCVD
  • What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean
  • Common Misconceptions
• HDL, LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides
  • Lower Your LDL
• Genetic Conditions
  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)
  • Homozygous FH
  • Lipoprotein (a)
• Causes of High Cholesterol
• How To Get Your Cholesterol Tested
  • Understand Risk
• Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol
  • Cholesterol Medication Questions
  • Cholesterol Medications
  • The Skinny on Fats
  • Cooking to Lower Cholesterol
• Cholesterol Tools and Resources
  • Heart & Stroke Helper App
  • Dr. Akil Taherbhai's story

Related Articles

What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean