Cholesterol is necessary for biological processes, but there is a difference between good and bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoproteins and transports cholesterol out of the arteries, while bad cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream and can build up on artery walls, increasing the risk of heart disease. Blood cholesterol levels are monitored by measuring LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. Testing may require fasting and should be done based on factors such as diet, lifestyle, family history, and age.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is a byproduct of normal liver metabolism. While many people are alarmed at the mere mention of the word, cholesterol is actually necessary for a number of biological processes. For example, the body requires cholesterol to make vitamin D. It is also needed to make bile acid to promote proper digestion and to make androgenic hormones. However, there is a key difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.
Since cholesterol is used by various cells, it must be transported through the bloodstream to get to where it is needed. This is especially true since cholesterol is insoluble in the blood. The vehicle comes in a type of lipid called a lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are designated as low-density or high-density. Good cholesterol is also known as HDL cholesterol because its mode of transport comes from high-density lipoproteins. In contrast, bad cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol, moves through the blood vapor via low-density lipoproteins.
In addition to the mode of transport, there is a difference in fate between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is considered “bad” because it usually never leaves the bloodstream. In fact, it tends to continue to circulate there. This allows cholesterol to build up on artery walls and eventually form deposits of a hard substance known as plaque. Since arteries supply blood to the brain and heart, a blockage or narrowing of these pathways can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Good cholesterol, on the other hand, is named as such because it is carried by high-density lipoproteins. This is significant because HDL lipids tend to transport cholesterol out of the arteries and back to the liver, where it is ultimately eliminated as waste. Also, LDL cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream is often trapped in the process before it can build up and form plaque in the arteries. That is why having a higher serum concentration of good cholesterol is considered beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease and other complications.
Blood cholesterol levels are monitored by measuring three values: LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides, another type of fat made from unused calories that is also transported via low-density lipoproteins. . This blood test may require several hours of fasting first, or it may not be possible to accurately determine LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Whether or when to have your cholesterol checked depends on a variety of factors, including diet, lifestyle, family history, and age. Also, high risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or high blood pressure, may require baseline cholesterol testing at a younger age and more frequently thereafter.
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