What does it mean to have high hdl cholesterol?

Good: Hdl is the good cholesterol and having a high level of it will stand against the effects of the bad cholesterol called ldl, so having a high HDL can help in eleminating risk factors for having a stroke or a heart attack in the near future.

It's good - usually.: High hdl-c (> 60 mg/dl) is usually a very good sign. But, risk is always moderated by ldl-c, triglycerides, blood pressure, lp(a) level, family history, smoking, diabetes, exercise, weight/obesity, etc. So, all things equal, good is usually better, but don't forget it's not a safety net. Finally for those with a very high HDL (> 75) your doctor may want to check the size of the particles once.