How can the HDL (good) cholesterol be raised?

Q: I am 27 years old, 110 kg. From the last 2 years I have been taking losartan 25mg, as I had borderline high BP of 150/90, which has reduced and from 1 year is perfectly normal in range of 130/85. I am even thinking of reducing losartan to 12.5mg. I took lipid profile test recently, all results were good but HDL is low. How can I raise HDL?

A:The target BP is 120/80 or below. Losartan is a good drug and does not adversely affect the blood lipids. You need to consult your treating doctor for the dose etc. Very small doses usually are no good. Regular exercise for more than 30 minutes is a good way to modestly increase your HDL cholesterol. The target of LDL cholesterol is less than 100 mgs and triglycerides less than 150 mgs. The ultimate aim of these targets is to prevent complications like stroke, heart attack and renal failure etc in the long run.