For women, what is the goal for HDL cholesterol levels?

For women, the goal for HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels is to have them greater than 50 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from the bloodstream, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Higher levels of HDL are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular problems.

In general, HDL levels of 40 mg/dL or less are considered low and may increase the risk for heart disease. While levels greater than 60 mg/dL are often seen as protective against heart disease, the standard target for many clinical guidelines sets the minimum desirable level at greater than 50 mg/dL for women to promote heart health. This understanding highlights the importance of having adequate HDL cholesterol as part of overall lipid profile management.

Setting the target at levels less than 30, greater than 40, or even greater than 60 does not align with established recommendations for maintaining optimal heart health in women.