Answer to Question 1
Factors that impact HDL levels:
One factor is gender. Women have higher HDL cholesterol levels than men. However, heart disease is the major cause of death among women after menopause, when low levels of estrogen lead to a decrease in HDL levels along with an increase in LDL levels.
Another factor, interestingly, seems to be smoking habits. Nonsmokers have uniformly higher HDL levels than do smokers.
Still another factor is body weight. Those who are overweight may increase HDL levels by losing weight.
Answer to Question 2
True