Cholesterol is a wax-like substance in human blood responsible for the synthesis of hormones and vitamin D and also helps with digestion. However, too much cholesterol possess serious health risks as it can lead to conditions such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.
What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol can be caused by an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. In most cases, cholesterol is caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices although it can also be inherited.
Types of cholesterol
Cholesterol is attached to proteins, and these lipoproteins are carried through the blood. Based on what the lipoprotein carries, the cholesterol can be divided into two:
High-density Lipoprotein (HDL): HDL absorbs cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver where it is flushed out of the body. HDL, also known as good cholesterol, can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The desired level of good cholesterol is 60 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) for both men and women. The levels below 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women are considered risky. People who have naturally higher levels of HDL cholesterol are considered to be at a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. However, medications to increase HDL levels cannot reduce the risk of heart attacks, and people with extremely high HDL levels (above 100 mg/dL) are also at higher risk of heart disease.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): LDL is often known as bad cholesterol as it blocks the blood vessels and increases the risk for heart disease. Most of the cholesterol in the body is LDL. The optimal level of LDL is less than 100 mg/dL.
Triglyceride is a type of fat that the body gets from food, which is used for energy. When a person has high triglycerides, along with low HDL and/or high LDL cholesterol levels, the risk for health problems is high.
4 myths about cholesterol
- All cholesterol is bad. Fact: LDL is the type of cholesterol that can…
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