HDL Cholesterol 37 mg/dL: Is That Low?

Is HDL Cholesterol 37 mg/dL Low, Normal, or High?

HDL cholesterol 37 mg/dL is considered low and falls below the healthy minimum for both men and women. HDL, often called "good" cholesterol, plays a critical role in cardiovascular health by removing excess LDL cholesterol from your arteries and carrying it back to the liver for processing. The American Heart Association classifies HDL below 40 mg/dL in men and below 50 mg/dL in women as a major risk factor for heart disease. At 37 mg/dL, your body's ability to clear cholesterol from your blood vessels is compromised, which can accelerate plaque buildup over time. This result should be discussed with your healthcare provider as part of your overall cardiovascular risk assessment.

A singular HDL cholesterol reading of 37 mg/dL is notably low, falling significantly below the optimal range of 60-100 mg/dL, and signals an increased cardiovascular risk profile. This level indicates a considerable deficit in "good" cholesterol, which plays a crucial role in transporting excess cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver for removal. Such a low value is frequently linked to lifestyle factors including a sedentary routine, diets high in refined carbohydrates and unhealthy trans fats, and especially central adiposity (abdominal fat). It can also be a marker for underlying metabolic issues like insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, even before other diagnostic criteria are fully met. To comprehensively assess this finding, your healthcare provider will likely recommend a follow-up fasting lipid panel, along with checks for fasting glucose or HbA1c to screen for insulin resistance or pre-diabetes. Blood pressure measurement and an assessment of waist circumference are also typical, helping to build a complete picture of your metabolic health. An honest detail often overlooked: while raising HDL cholesterol can be more challenging than lowering LDL, even modest increases from 37 mg/dL through consistent aerobic exercise and substituting healthy fats like avocados or nuts for saturated ones, demonstrably enhance the protective function of your existing HDL particles, improving your long-term cardiovascular prognosis.

Hidden Risk of HDL Cholesterol 37 mg/dL

An HDL cholesterol level of 37 mg/dL means your cardiovascular defense system is working below capacity. Even if your LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol appear acceptable, low HDL independently increases your risk of developing heart disease. The National Institutes of Health have documented that low HDL is one of the most common lipid abnormalities found in people who experience heart attacks.

A low HDL cholesterol level, such as 37 mg/dL, significantly elevates your risk for cardiovascular disease by impairing reverse cholesterol transport. Normally, HDL acts as a scavenger, picking up excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and arteries to return it to the liver for excretion. With an HDL this low, this crucial cleanup process is less efficient, allowing more LDL cholesterol to accumulate in artery walls, forming atherosclerotic plaques. This stagnation promotes inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and can accelerate the development of coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and increase the likelihood of plaque rupture leading to heart attack or stroke.

• Low HDL is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, meaning it raises your risk even when other cholesterol numbers look normal
• HDL particles do more than transport cholesterol. They also carry antioxidant enzymes and anti-inflammatory proteins that protect the lining of your arteries
• An HDL of 37 mg/dL frequently appears alongside elevated triglycerides, a combination that is particularly harmful to artery health and is often linked to insulin resistance
• Without adequate HDL, small dense LDL particles are more likely to penetrate artery walls and trigger the inflammatory cascade that leads to plaque formation
• The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL is a useful predictor of risk. With HDL at 37, even a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL gives a ratio of 5.7, which the American Heart Association considers above the desirable range

What Does a HDL Cholesterol Level of 37 mg/dL Mean?

HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. These dense, protein-rich particles circulate through your bloodstream performing a vital cleanup function. They attach to excess cholesterol molecules deposited in artery walls and transport them back to the liver through a process called reverse cholesterol transport. This process is your body's primary mechanism for preventing cholesterol from accumulating where it can cause damage.

A persistently low HDL cholesterol around 37 mg/dL is often linked to specific lifestyle and metabolic factors. Genetics plays a role, but significant contributors at this level typically include a diet high in refined carbohydrates and trans fats, which can actively lower HDL, while simultaneously raising LDL. Sedentary behavior is another major driver, as physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, is one of the most potent ways to increase HDL. Certain medications, like some beta-blockers or anabolic steroids, can also suppress HDL levels, and underlying conditions such as metabolic syndrome, uncontrolled diabetes, or hypothyroidism further compound this reduction.

At 37 mg/dL, you have fewer HDL particles available to perform this function than your cardiovascular system needs. The cleanup process is happening, but it is not keeping pace with the cholesterol being deposited. Over months and years, this imbalance contributes to atherosclerosis, the gradual narrowing of arteries that underlies most heart attacks and strokes.

HDL particles also serve protective roles beyond cholesterol transport. They carry an enzyme called paraoxonase that prevents LDL from oxidizing. Oxidized LDL is far more dangerous than regular LDL because it triggers an aggressive inflammatory response in artery walls. With fewer HDL particles patrolling your blood vessels, LDL oxidation proceeds more freely.

The causes of low HDL at this level typically involve a combination of factors. Genetics account for a significant portion of HDL variation between individuals. Lifestyle factors including physical inactivity, smoking, excess body weight particularly around the abdomen, and diets heavy in processed foods and refined carbohydrates also contribute. Medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease can lower HDL as well.

Lifestyle Changes for HDL Cholesterol 37 mg/dL

Raising HDL from 37 mg/dL is an achievable goal, and lifestyle modifications are the foundation of any improvement plan. Exercise is consistently ranked as one of the most effective ways to increase HDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Research published by the NIH shows that regular aerobic exercise can raise HDL by 2 to 8 mg/dL over several months, with greater improvements seen at higher exercise volumes.

To address an HDL level of 37 mg/dL, immediate focus should be on aggressive lifestyle modifications. Prioritize increasing your intake of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, and fatty fish, while drastically reducing saturated and trans fats. Incorporate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling. If you are overweight, achieving even a modest 5-10% weight loss can significantly boost HDL. Consider discussing potential medication adjustments with your physician if current prescriptions are suspected culprits, and follow up with another lipid panel in 3-6 months.

The intensity and duration of exercise both matter. Longer sessions of moderate activity and shorter bursts of vigorous activity both produce HDL benefits. Finding an exercise routine you enjoy and can sustain is more important than optimizing every variable. Consistency over months and years is what drives lasting improvement.

Strength training two to three times per week complements aerobic exercise by improving body composition. Replacing fat mass with lean muscle mass improves insulin sensitivity and supports healthier lipid metabolism overall.

If you currently smoke, stopping is essential. Smoking lowers HDL by impairing its production and damaging the particles that are present. Within just a few weeks of quitting, HDL levels begin to recover. Over the course of a year, former smokers can see HDL increases of 10 percent or more.

Body weight management is directly linked to HDL levels. Carrying excess weight, especially visceral fat around the abdomen, is one of the most common drivers of low HDL. Gradual, sustained weight loss through increased activity and healthier eating can raise HDL meaningfully. Research from the Mayo Clinic indicates that for roughly every six pounds of body weight lost, HDL may increase by about 1 mg/dL.

Sleep and stress deserve attention as well. Poor sleep and chronic stress both promote systemic inflammation and hormonal imbalances that can suppress HDL production. Prioritizing seven to nine hours of sleep and incorporating regular stress-reducing activities supports your body's ability to produce and maintain healthy HDL levels.

Written by

Ernestas K.

Clinical research writer specializing in human health, biology, and preventive medicine.

Reviewed against AHA, NIH, ACC, Mayo Clinic, PubMed guidelines · Last reviewed March 20, 2026