The greater the levels of HDL, the lower the chance of developing

atherosclerosis. Low levels indicate high risk of cardiovascular disease

HDL cholesterol is referred to as a good lipoprotein as it tends to
transport cholesterol away from the arterial wall, whereas LDL
(referred to as bad) carries cholesterol from the liver to the arteries,
where it is deposited in the artery walls as a fatty substance called a
plaque.
LDL transports 75% of the bloods cholesterol around the body.
However, this cholesterol sometimes undergoes a process of oxidation
(it becomes an unstable molecule) which allows it to penetrate, and act
dangerously, with the artery wall.