HDL
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as the "good cholesterol," helps transport excess cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver for processing. Monitoring HDL over time provides valuable insight into cardiovascular health and the effectiveness of your long-term lifestyle habits.
Sample Type
ARM BLOOD
Fast results
3 DAYS
What is HDL CHOLESTEROL?
HDL plays a unique role in supporting cardiovascular health by helping remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. Rather than contributing to plaque formation, HDL participates in a process known as reverse cholesterol transport, helping maintain healthy blood vessels and supporting normal cholesterol balance.
HDL levels are influenced by many factors, including genetics, physical activity, body weight, nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, hormone status, and overall metabolic health. Unlike many health markers, HDL often responds gradually to long-term lifestyle changes, making routine monitoring especially valuable.
Following your HDL over time allows you to evaluate how improvements in exercise, nutrition, weight management, and other healthy habits are affecting your cardiovascular wellness. Establishing your personal baseline also provides important context when interpreting other lipid markers such as LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol.
Rather than focusing on a single number, tracking HDL trends helps provide a more complete understanding of your heart health and supports informed decisions that promote healthy aging and long-term wellness.
Symptoms of Imbalanced HDL
Low HDL typically develops without noticeable symptoms but may be associated with:
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Increased cardiovascular risk
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Sedentary lifestyle
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Excess body weight
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Poor metabolic health
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Smoking history
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Reduced physical fitness
Better Together
These tests work in sync to deliver more meaningful insights.
Complete the picture with:
HDL is most valuable when interpreted alongside Total Cholesterol, LDL, and Triglycerides.
Together, these four biomarkers provide a more comprehensive assessment of your cardiovascular health and help you better monitor the impact of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes over time.
Featured product
Monthly Membership
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A personalized health membership that gives you access to one biomarker test each month.
Monitor key aspects of your health from home with convenient saliva collection or a painless arm blood collection device, professional laboratory analysis, easy-to-understand results and ongoing support.
How does the membership work?
Simply choose one eligible biomarker each month from our growing test menu. Your collection kit is shipped directly to your home, and once your sample is processed, you'll receive secure online results with educational insights to help you better understand your health.
Can I skip or cancel anytime?
Yes. You can skip a month, pause your membership, or cancel anytime through your account. There are no long-term commitments or cancellation fees.
Is this covered by insurance?
ALYX is a direct to consumer wellness membership designed to provide affordable, convenient access to biomarker testing without the need for insurance, expensive copays or deductibles, or a doctor's visit.
While ALYX does not bill insurance directly, we can provide an itemized receipt that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible reimbursement. Reimbursement is subject to your individual insurance plan and benefits.