LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol is known as the "bad cholesterol". This is because an increase in LDL can build up in the arteries and cause heart disease.
HDL (high-density lipoproteins) cholesterol absorbs cholesterol and brings it to the liver which then sends the cholesterol out of the body, reducing heart disease risk.
The two "types" of cholesterol are actually the same kind of cholesterol because there is only one type. Even though it sounds kind of confusing, the two names only refer to the amount in which the cholesterol is packed onto their transporters. LDL has more cholesterol packed onto its transporter and vise-versa.
LDL's are coated in more cholesterol than proteins which makes it hard to go through arteries without getting attached to them because they have a thick coating of cholesterol around them. HDL's are different. They are not coated with as much cholesterol as LDL's are and they can flow through the blood stream without clotting any arteries, which is why HDL's are called the "good cholesterol" and LDL's are called "bad cholesterol".
The complications that can arise from the two forms of cholesterol is why doctors monitor the levels of LDL and HDL. The monitoring of cholesterol helps doctors assess their patient's probability of developing cardiovascular disease. The more LDL one has in their system, the more at risk they are for contracting a heart related disease because of all the low density lipoprotein buildup.
Along with LDL and HDL, doctors can measure triglyceride levels in the blood stream. Triglycerides are converted into cholesterol by the body, and if there is a high concentration of triglycerides in the blood stream, one's risk of cardiovascular disease will be higher.
No comments:
Post a Comment