HDL CHOLESTEROL

HDL cholesterol is the well-behaved "good cholesterol." This friendly scavenger cruises the bloodstream. As it does, it removes harmful bad cholesterol from where it doesn't belong. High HDL levels reduce the risk for heart disease -- but low levels increase the risk.

What Makes HDL Cholesterol so Good?

HDL is short for high-density lipoprotein. Each bit of HDL cholesterol is a microscopic blob that consists of a rim of lipoprotein surrounding a cholesterol center. The HDL cholesterol particle is dense compared to other types of cholesterol particles, so it's called high-density.

Cholesterol isn't all bad. In fact, cholesterol is an essential fat. It provides stability in every cell of your body.

To travel through the bloodstream, cholesterol has to be transported by helper molecules called lipoproteins. Each lipoprotein has its own preferences for cholesterol, and each acts differently with the cholesterol it carries.

Experts believe HDL cholesterol may act in a variety of helpful ways that tend to reduce the risk for heart disease:

• HDL cholesterol scavenges and removes LDL -- or "bad" -- cholesterol.
• HDL reduces, reuses, and recycles LDL cholesterol by transporting it to the liver where it can be reprocessed.
• HDL cholesterol acts as a maintenance crew for the inner walls (endothelium) of blood vessels. Damage to the inner walls is the first step in the process of atherosclerosis, which causes heart attacks and strokes. HDL scrubs the wall clean and keeps it healthy

What Are Good Levels for the HDL Cholesterol?

A cholesterol test or lipid panel tells the level of HDL cholesterol. What do the numbers mean?

• HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) are high. That's good.
• HDL cholesterol levels less than 40 mg/dL are low. That's not so good.

In general, people with high HDL are at lower risk for heart disease. People with low HDL are at higher risk.

What Can I Do if my HDL Cholesterol Level Is Low?

If your HDL is low, you can take several steps to boost your HDL level and reduce your heart disease risk:

• Exercise. Aerobic exercise for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week can help pump up HDL.
• Quit smoking. Tobacco smoke lowers HDL, and quitting can increase HDL levels.
• Keep a healthy weight. Besides improving HDL levels, avoiding obesity reduces risk for heart disease and multiple other health conditions.

·         In certain cases, your doctor may recommend medication to improve your cholesterol level. Remember that multiple factors besides cholesterol contribute to heart disease. Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and genetics are all important as well.

·         Because so many factors contribute to heart disease, cholesterol isn't everything. People with normal HDL cholesterol can have heart disease. And people with low HDL levels can have healthy hearts. Overall, though, people who have low HDL cholesterol will have greater risk of developing heart disease than people with high HDL levels.

 

 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VLDL AND LDL

Overview

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are two different types of lipoproteins found in your blood. Lipoproteins are a combination of proteins and various types of fats. They carry cholesterol and triglycerides through your bloodstream.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that’s necessary for building cells. In the body, its most commonly created in your liver through a complex pathway. Triglycerides are another type of fat that’s used to store extra energy in your cells.

The main difference between VLDL and LDL is that they have different percentages of the cholesterol, protein, and triglycerides that make up each lipoprotein. VLDL contains more triglycerides. LDL contains more cholesterol.

VLDL and LDL are both considered types of “bad” cholesterol. While your body needs both cholesterol and triglycerides to function, having too much of them can cause them to build up in your arteries. This can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

VLDL definition

VLDL is created in your liver to carry triglycerides throughout your body. It’s made up of the following components Trusted Source by weight:

Main components of VLDL	Percentage
cholesterol	10%
triglycerides	70%
proteins	10%
other fats	10%

 

The triglycerides carried by VLDL are used by cells in the body for energy. Eating more carbohydrates, or sugars, than you burn can lead to excessive amounts of triglycerides and high levels of VLDL in your blood. Extra triglycerides are stored in fat cells and released at a later time when needed for energy.

High levels of triglycerides are linked to the buildup of hard deposits in your arteries. These deposits are called plaques. Plaque buildup increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. Experts believe this is due to:

• increased inflammation
• increased blood pressure
• changes in the lining of blood vessels
• low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol

High triglycerides are also associated with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

LDL definition

Some VLDL is cleared in the bloodstream. The rest is transformed into LDL by enzymes in the blood. LDL has less triglycerides and a higher percentage of cholesterol than VLDL. LDL is largely made up of the following components Trusted Source by weight:

Main components of LDL	Percentage
cholesterol	26%
triglycerides	10%
proteins	25%
other fats	15%

LDL carries cholesterol throughout your body. Too much cholesterol in your body leads to high LDL levels. High LDL levels are also associated with the build up of plaque in your arteries.

These deposits can eventually lead to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when deposits of plaque have hardened and narrowed the artery. This increases your risk for having a heart attack and stroke.

Recent guidelines from the American Heart Association now focus on the overall risk for developing heart disease, rather than individual cholesterol results.

Your levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL, along with a variety of other factors, determine which treatment options are best for you.

Talk to your doctor about your cholesterol and how you can lower your risk for heart disease with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and medication, if needed.

Testing VLDL and LDL

Most people will get their LDL level tested during a routine physical exam. LDL is usually tested as part of a cholesterol test.

The American Heart Association recommends all individuals over the age of 20 get their cholesterol checked every four to six years. Cholesterol levels may need to be followed up more frequently if your risk for heart disease is high or to monitor any treatment.

There’s no specific test for VLDL cholesterol. VLDL is usually estimated based on your triglycerides level. Triglycerides are also usually tested with a cholesterol test.

Many doctors don’t do the calculations to find your estimated VLDL level unless you ask for it specifically or have:

• other risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• certain abnormal cholesterol conditions
• early onset heart disease

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

• increased age
• increased weight
• having diabetes or high blood pressure
• having a family history of cardiovascular disease
• smoking
• lack of regular physical activity
• unhealthy diet (high in animal fat and sugar and low in fruits, vegetables, and fiber)

How to lower VLDL and LDL levels:

The strategies for lowering your VLDL and LDL levels are the same: increase physical exercise and eat a healthy variety of foods.

Quitting smoking and decreasing alcohol consumption can be beneficial as well. Your doctor is the best place to start for recommendations on heart-healthy lifestyle changes tailored for you.

Tips

• Eat nuts, avocados, steel-cut oatmeal, and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and halibut.
• Avoid saturated fats, which are found in foods like beef, butter, and cheese.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

 

CHOLESTEROL 

What is cholesterol?

 

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese.

Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high and a reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered high. LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL.

If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form plaque. Plaque sticks to the walls of your arteries. This build up of plaque is known as atherosclerosis. It can lead to coronary artery disease, where your coronary arteries become narrow or even blocked.

 

What are HDL, LDL, and VLDL?

 

HDL, LDL, and VLDL are lipoproteins. They are a combination of fat (lipid) and protein. The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so they can move through the blood. Different types of lipoproteins have different purposes:

·         HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. It is sometimes called "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body.

 

·         LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. It is sometimes called "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to the build up of plaque in your arteries.

 

·         VLDL stands for very low-density lipoprotein. Some people also call VLDL “BAD” cholesterol because it too contributes to the build up of plaque in your arteries. But VLDL and LDL are different; VLDL mainly carries triglycerides and LDL mainly carries cholesterol.

 

What causes high cholesterol?

The most common cause of high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle. This can include

·         Unhealthy eating habits, such as eating lots of bad fats. One type, saturated fat, is found in some meats, dairy products, and chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods. Another type, Trans fat, is in some fried and processed foods. Eating these fats can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol.

·         Lack of physical activity, with lots of sitting and little exercise. This lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol.

·         Smoking, which lowers HDL cholesterol, especially in women? It also raises your LDL cholesterol.

Genetics may also cause people to have high cholesterol. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of high cholesterol. Other medical conditions and certain medicines may also cause high cholesterol.

What can raise my risk of high cholesterol?

A variety of things can raise your risk for high cholesterol:

·         Age. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. Even though it is less common, younger people, including children and teens, can also have high cholesterol.

·         Heredity. High blood cholesterol can run in families.

·         Weight. Being overweight or having obesity raises your cholesterol level.

·         Race. Certain races may have an increased risk of high cholesterol. For example, African Americans typically have higher HDL and LDL cholesterol levels than whites.

 

What health problems can high cholesterol cause?

 

If you have large deposits of plaque in your arteries, an area of plaque can rupture (break open).

This can cause a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque.

If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow in a coronary artery.

If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, it can cause angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.

Plaque also can build up in other arteries in your body, including the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your brain and limbs.

 This can lead to problems such as carotid artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

 

 

How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high cholesterol. There is a blood test to measure your cholesterol level. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:

For people who are age 19 or younger:

·         The first test should be between ages 9 to 11

·         Children should have the test again every 5 years

·         Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke

For people who are age 20 or older:

·         Younger adults should have the test every 5 years

·         Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years

 

Recommended levels

Healthy levels of cholesterol don’t vary much for typical adults. Variation of recommended levels tends to change due to other health conditions and considerations.

Cholesterol levels for adults

• Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high and a reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered high.
• LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL. Levels of 100 to 129 mg/dL are acceptable for people with no health issues but may be of more concern for those with heart disease or heart disease risk factors. A reading of 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high and 160 to 189 mg/dL is high. A reading of 190 mg/dL or higher is considered very high.
• HDL levels should be kept higher. A reading of less than 40 mg/dL is considered a major risk factor for heart disease. A reading from 41 mg/dL to 59 mg/dL is considered borderline low. The optimal reading for HDL levels is of 60 mg/dL or higher.

Cholesterol levels for children

By comparison, acceptable levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in children are different.

• An acceptable range of total cholesterol for a child is less than 170 mg/dL. Borderline high total cholesterol for a child ranges from 170 to 199 mg/dL. Any reading of total cholesterol over 200 in a child is too high.
• A child’s LDL cholesterol levels should also be lower than an adult’s. The optimal range of LDL cholesterol for a child is less than 110 mg/dL. Borderline high is from 110 to 129 mg/dL while high is over 130 mg/dL.

Tips

The best recommendation for children and adolescents to keep cholesterol levels in check is living a healthful, active lifestyle. This includes eating a healthful diet and getting plenty of exercise.

Sedentary, overweight children who eat a diet high in processed foods are most likely to have high cholesterol. Children who have a family history of high cholesterol may also be at risk.

Generally, the earlier an adult starts living a healthful lifestyle, the better for their cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels build over time. A sudden change in lifestyle will help eventually, but the older a person is, the less impact they will see in cholesterol levels.

All adults should stay active and maintain regular exercise routines. Women going through menopause and adults with high levels of cholesterol may want to consider medication that will help reduce cholesterol levels more rapidly than diet alone.

High cholesterol at any age puts a person at risk for heart disease, heart attack, and strokes. These risks only increase over time, especially for adults who are not taking action to reduce their cholesterol build up.

 

Some people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) may receive a treatment called lipoprotein apheresis. This treatment uses a filtering machine to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. Then the machine returns the rest of the blood back to the person.