HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol in layman terms is actually a lipoprotein that is created to transport cholesterol. Cholesterol is synthesized in the body by the liver and therefore is a non-essential element. Since cholesterol is hydrophobic, it cannot travel in the blood and therefore requires a carrier to transport it in an envelope. This job is done by lipoproteins like very low density lipoprotein or VLDL, low density lipoprotein or LDL, and high density lipoprotein or HDL. VLDL and LDL levels are quite harmful for the body because they tend to cause the macrophages of the body to deposit cholesterol in the arteries of the heart causing atherosclerosis. HDL on the other hand will remove any cholesterol that is roaming free in the blood and take it to the steroidal glands that require cholesterol for hormone synthesis or to the liver for recycling. There is a test for cholesterol and HDL levels.
The test for low or high HDL cholesterol in the blood is a test to judge the risk of heart attacks, and heart failure. A diagnosis or a test result that shows low serum HDL or low plasma HDL cholesterol is a sign of increased risk of heart failure. Corrective measures are then taken to ensure that the levels of HDL are brought up.
The test is performed by two assays depending on the ability of the laboratory. The test requires just a blood sample, which will then be tested in assay for the presence of lipoprotein. Low levels of LDL do not mean that the risk of heart attacks is reduced; the only way that this can be managed is through HDL.
There is no preparation that is required for the HDL good cholesterol levels test. If the test results show a low level of HDL concentration, then you would need to start taking some measures to ensure that your liver is able to increase HDL cholesterol. Exercise, quitting smoking, and a vegetarian diet are the first steps to take. Adding more whole wheat, pulses, and legumes to the diet is the next step. And finally, you must ensure that you increase the amount of omega 3 fatty acids as supplements, however, ensure that you are not taking any omega 6 fatty acids as supplements, since this can cause the levels of HDL to drop.