CHOLESTEROL

TYPES OF CHOLESTEROT

Everyday you hear people talking about Cholesterol, generally referring to LDL Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol but there is a third type of Cholesterol that rarely gets mentioned.

Lp(a) Cholesterol

So what is Lp (a) Cholesterol?

It is genetic meaning tending to occur among members of a family usually by heredity. It varies between family members.So it is really a genetic variation and it occurs in the plasma LDL. This is important because if it is high you run a risk of developing atherosclerosis prematurely. No one is really sure how Lp (a) contributes to heart disease. It may interact with substances in lesions in artery walls causing a build up of fatty deposits.

LDL Cholesterol (Low-density lipoprotein) is the major Cholesterol carrier in the blood. So if you have to much LDL circulating in your blood it can start building up a soft waxy substance in your arteries. When it mixes with other substances traveling through your arteries it can form plaque, which is a thick, hard deposit that clogs the arteries. Thus causing atherosclerosis.

The problem is now blood flow, it has slowed down, which can cause a clot(thrombus) to form near the plaque. When this happens blood flow to the heart muscle is affected which can cause a heart attack. Blood flow to the brain can be affected also causing a stroke.

What is considered a high level of LDL Cholesterol?

Anything above 159mg/dL reflects increased risk of heart disease.If you have heart disease your doctor will want the level to be 100mg/dL or lower. Sometimes a recommended level for LDL is 70mg/dL. LDL is the bad cholesterol everyone is concerned about.

What is HDL cholesterol?

The good cholesterol we hear about. It carries the cholesterol away from arteries and back to the liver, allowing it to be passed from the body. A high HDL seems to protect against heart attacks.

However, the opposite is also true: a low HDL level (less than 40 mg/dL in men; less than 50 mg/dL in women) indicates a greater risk. A low HDL cholesterol level also may raise stroke risk.

How do we get cholesterol?

It is produce naturally by the liver at around 1,000 milligrams a day. The rest comes mainly from the foods we eat.Animals we eat and products from those animals contain cholesterol. Why is that you ask? Due to living creatures having to have cholesterol to live just like we humans do.

Any foods from plants don't contain cholesterol. So fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds are free of cholesterol.

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