HDL Bad. Why? Should I be concerned?

I just got my checkup result today and my HDL is 36 (normal is 40). Other LIPID tests are good: cholesterol is 146, Triglycerides is 126, LDL is 85. So they are very good. So why my HDL is bad? should I be concerned? and how to increase it? I googled HDL and most say that I have to exercise but I did already. Any opinion/experience?

[erijon]

Welcome and thanks for the question. You are correct, your HDL target is 40, however that depends on your LDL. The goal for LDL is 130 and you are well below that. Remember the role that HDL plays. It binds with LDL (the bad cholesterol) and takes it back to your liver to be recycled or eliminated. The less LDL you have, the less HDL you need. What you want to look at is your cholesterol ratios. Your HDL/LDL ratio is .42 and anything above .4 is considered ideal so you are really in pretty good shape so I wouldn't worry.

The link below will show you what the numbers mean;

http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/heart-information/your-cholesterol

Your numbers look really good, hope this helps!

Jon

[Flycaster305]

I agree with Erijon, you are probably fine.  I raised my HDL levels by exercising most every day, getting my heart rate raised about 30 beats per minute for at least 1/2 hour.  

[jr8rdt]

@erijon: thanks for the reply and encouragement.
@Flycaster305: you mean 130 beats? yea I will try. I do reach 130-148 everytime I exercise , but not for 1/2 hour. I do plateau style (100-148) in 1/2 hrs

[Flycaster305]

No.  I meant at least 30 heart beats a minute higher that a casual walking heart beat.  In my case, my heart rate won't go higher that 120 bpm normally as I I have a pacemaker that limited my heart rate to that number.  It will increase to 130 if it senses a 'fight or flight' trigger in the blood flow.