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A risk to health arises when HDL levels are too low. Evidence from studies shows that low HDL cholesterol is an independent risk factor for heart disease. This means that regardless of whether other risk factors are present, the risk of heart disease is higher for people with low HDL cholesterol. A 1-percent decrease in HDL levels is associated with a 2- to 3-percent increase in heart disease risk.

Interestingly, adult women tend to have higher HDL cholesterol levels than adult men. According to government estimates, approximately one-third of all adult men and one-fifth of adult women have low HDL cholesterol levels that put them at increased risk of heart disease. At 40 mg/dL, however, both men and women can be considered to have low HDL-there is no separate recommendation for women. Nor is there a separate recommendation regarding HDL levels for children.

Natural strategies to increase HDL cholesterol include losing weight, increasing activity, and quitting smoking. These natural strategies have no adverse side effects, as can be the case with some prescription drugs.

The question of whether increased HDL cholesterol levels reduce the risk of heart disease, independent of other factors, remains to be answered. Some medications that lower LDL cholesterol also raise HDL levels.

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