What is Cholesterol?

The human body produces fat which is a wax-like substance called cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in each cell within the body, which helps the cell membranes form the layers. These layers protect the cells act as a barrier to what things will enter or leave the cell. Cholesterol is very important for your health. It’s created by the liver and is additionally employed by the liver to create digestive fluid, that helps you digest foods. Cholesterol is required for our body to create hormones and to produce vitamin D.

Our body produces 80% of the cholesterol naturally and 20% we will get from animal source food we tend to eat like meat, dairy products, etc.

TYPES OF CHOLESTEROL?

Because of its wax substance, it doesn’t dissolve in water therefore, it will not flow through the blood on its own. To help transport, your liver produces lipoproteins.

What are Lipo-Proteins?

Lipoproteins are a combination of Lipids(cholesterol) and proteins. The liver and intestine combine this cholesterol along with other fats, proteins from other parts of the body and, produce mini lipoproteins (lipid + proteins). These lipoproteins move cholesterol and other fats throughout the body.

There are 5 types of Lipo-Proteins?

CHYLOMICRONS

These are known as ultra-low-density lipoproteins. These are assembled primarily in the intestine and carry fat derived from foods to the liver and peripheral tissues. Chylomicrons deliver triglycerides (another type of fat) to tissues. ApoB 48 is a unique protein to chylomicrons from the small intestine Elevated levels of apo B correspond to elevated levels of LDL-C

VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein)

These are assembled primarily within the liver and deliver triglycerides to tissues. Because the body cells extract fat from VLDLs, the particles turn into intermediate-density lipoproteins, and, with additional extraction, it turns into LDL particles. It also contributes to the buildup of plaque in your arteries.

Intermediate lipoproteins

Particles form as VLDLs gives up their fatty acids. Some particles are removed rapidly by the liver, and some are changed into low-density lipoproteins

Low-density lipoproteins(LDL)

It is also called bad cholesterol. This LDL transports cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. If LDL cholesterol is high, there will be a high risk because your body stores extra cholesterol in your arteries.

Arteries

These are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

If your blood contains an excessive amount of cholesterol, you will develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow,

A build-up of cholesterol in your arteries is referred to as plaque. This buildup of plaque is known as atherosclerosis which is coronary artery disease. Over time plaque can become hard making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. When plaque increases, these deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

VLDL and LDL are different; VLDL mainly carries triglycerides to tissues and LDL carries cholesterol to other parts of the body

HDL(high-density lipoprotein)

It is considered good cholesterol. it transports excess cholesterol back to the liver from organs and tissues. This helps prevent cholesterol plaque from increasing in your arteries.

TRIGLYCERIDES

It is another form of unhealthy fat, They’re entirely different from cholesterol. When you eat excess food then your body can use it, it turns extra calories into triglycerides. When you eat too much unhealthy food, triglycerides will increase in your body and there is a high risk of an increase in heart stroke, obesity, metabolic syndrome. These are very dangerous than LDL.

 How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

High cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect.  high cholesterol is a “silent” problem. It usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. Many people don’t even realize they have high cholesterol until they develop serious complications, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Before taking the Test:

Do not eat or drink anything other than water for 8 – 12 hours before the test. You will get the test results within 72 hours. It’s a lipid profile test or you can ask for a cholesterol test. The test results will be shown like this. There will be a reference range for cholesterol. According to that range, you can check if you are having high cholesterol or not.

 

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References from https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/cholesterol