HDL Cholesterol Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

For decades people have been told that it is critical to get their cholesterol levels down, especially bad LDL cholesterol. But there is growing recognition that good HDL cholesterol may be nearly as important. A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine reviewed data from people in Framingham, Massachusetts, who took cholesterol-lowering drugs. Their risk of developing heart disease was inversely related to their level of good HDL cholesterol. The more HDL in the blood stream, the lower the likelihood of heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease. They conclude that doctors should pay attention to changes in HDL cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol when they prescribe medications.
[Archives of Internal Medicine, Oct. 26, 2009]