What is the difference between “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol?
“Bad” cholesterol comes in the form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is the primary type of cholesterol in the blood and contributes to heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often called “good” cholesterol because it transports cholesterol from the body to the liver, which helps remove it from the body and prevents it from clogging arteries. • How are cholesterol levels tested? A lipoprotein profile is a blood test usually administered after fasting for 12 to 14 hours. It measures LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It is the preferred test for measuring cholesterol levels. • What should my cholesterol levels be? If you do not have any risk factors for heart disease, the ranges below are important numbers to know. If you have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease (diabetes, previous heart attacks) your health care professional will recommend different ranges than those listed below and will likely choose a more aggres
