Cholesterol is a soft,
waxy, fatty substance made naturally in the body, and we need a certain amount
because it's vital for the formation of cell structures, hormones and
substances that aid digestion.
The body makes most of
the cholesterol it needs. But cholesterol is also found in some animal food
products, and consuming too many can contribute to blood cholesterol becoming
dangerously high.
Some people have a hereditary condition where their bodies make too much cholesterol.
“Good” and “bad”
cholesterol
1. “Good” or HDL
cholesterol (the full term is High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol). HDL
cholesterol is sometimes called “good” because it helps remove cholesterol from
the arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to
the body’s cells. They are usually found in plant products and fish.
2. “Bad” or LDL
cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol). LDL cholesterol is sometimes
called “bad” because high levels are linked to build-up in your arteries. They are found in animal products.
A helpful way to
remember the difference between HDL and LDL:
·
You want HDL cholesterol levels to be HIGH.
·
You want LDL cholesterol levels to be LOW.
Total cholesterol is a
measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including both LDL
and HDL cholesterol.
What is high
cholesterol?
High cholesterol is
when you have too much cholesterol in your blood. It may also be called high
blood cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia.
The most important
effect of high cholesterol is that it can cause narrowing and blockages in the
arteries.
Excess cholesterol,
and other substances normally found in the blood like calcium and fat, can
start to build up just under the lining of artery walls.
The areas of the
artery wall where cholesterol and other matter collects are called “plaques”.
The formation of
plaques in the arteries is a condition called atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis
or “hardening of the arteries”.
How arteriosclerosis
progresses
Over time, the plaques
get harder and narrow the arteries further, limiting blood flow and damaging
the artery wall. The rougher the plaques make the artery lining, the more
likely substances like platelets, which make the blood sticky and promote
clotting, will also get trapped there.
If narrowing occurs in
the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle
itself, the condition is called coronary artery disease or coronary heart
disease, which raises risk for heart attack.
Coronary artery
disease may cause angina: pain or a sensation of pressure in your chest. You
may also feel angina pain in your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back; it may
even feel like indigestion.
A section of plaque
can break open, causing a blood clot to form: this can suddenly and
dramatically block blood flow to a vital organ. Blood clots can also break free
and travel in the body to cause blockages elsewhere.
A heart attack occurs
if blood flow to part of the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. If you
don't have emergency treatment to quickly get the blood flowing again, the
section of heart muscle starved of oxygen-rich blood can die. A heart attack
may be fatal.
Blockages in the
arteries that supply the brain can lead to stroke, which damages the section of
brain tissue deprived of oxygen-rich blood. Strokes are also sometimes
fatal.
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