have you checked your blood cholesterol levels? High cholesterol know as hypercholesterolemia is one of the important risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
on my post today i will tell you more about cholesterol and what you can do to avoid the problem of high levels of it in the body and blood.
in dealing with this topic we are going to find answers to some questions to give you a soft landing in understanding better the Danger of High cholesterol in the Body.
first is: what is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a natural waxy, fatty, lipid substance produced in the liver . it forms part of the cell structure and is vital for normal body functioning. The word cholesterol is of Greek derivation, chole- (bile) and stereos (solid) followed by the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol. it is also a source for the production of certain hormones and vitamines in the human body: steroid hormones, vitamin D and bile acids.
Functions of cholesterol in the human body
*Cholesterol is part of the building blocks for the human body, especially the cell membrane
* It plays important roles in the formation and metabolism of the other substances like biles, hormones and vitamins inside the body..[vitamins A,D,Eand K, and the sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone and Testosterone].
* it also helps the neurological system of the body.
Types of cholesterol in the body.
There are three main types of cholesterol in the body..cholesterol is carried in the blood by molecules called lipoproteins. A lipoprotein is any complex or compound containing both lipid (fat) and protein. The three main types are:
LDL..(low density lipoprotein)-this is regarded as the bad cholesterol .it carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. When LDL is in excess the buildup can be harmful, increasing risk of arterial and heart disease.
HDL(high density lipoprotein).. The good cholesterol. HDL takes cholesterol from cells and returns it to the liver. It prevents arterial disease and is associated with better cardiovascular functioning..
TRIGLYCERIDES.. These are the chemical forms in which most fat exists in the body, as well as in food..They are present in blood plasma. Triglycerides, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids (blood fat).. Triglycerides in plasma originate either from fats in our food, or are made in the body from other energy sources, such as carbohydrates. Calories we consume but are not used immediately by our tissues are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells. When your body needs energy and there is no food as an energy source, triglycerides will be released from fat cells and used as energy- hormones control this process.
Why is HDL the good cholesterol?
HDL is the good cholesterol because it protects the arteries from the from the atherosclerosis process. HDL helps to extract cholesterol particles from the artery walls and transports them to the liver to be disposed through the bile. It also counters the accumulation of LDL cholesterol particles in the artery walls. Higher levels of HDL help to reduce the risk of heart disease whereas low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk. Like LDL cholesterol, life style factors and other conditions influence HDL cholesterol levels. HDL cholesterol levels tend to be lower in persons who smoke cigarettes, are overweight and inactive, and in people with type ll diabetes mellitus.
HDL cholesterol is higher in people who are lean, exercise regularly, and do not smoke cigarettes. Estrogen increases a person's HDL cholesterol, which explains why women generally have higher HDL levels than men do.
High cholesterol levels
The amount of cholesterol in human blood can varies. Below is a list of cholesterol levels and how most doctors would categorize them..
Mg/dL
.Desirable- less than 200 mg/dL
.Borderline high- 200-239 mg/dl
.High-240 mg/dL and above
Hope you getting to know what cholesterol is...in my next post I will be talking on What causes high cholesterol in the body? Like and share with your friends
thank
Functions of cholesterol in the human body
*Cholesterol is part of the building blocks for the human body, especially the cell membrane
* It plays important roles in the formation and metabolism of the other substances like biles, hormones and vitamins inside the body..[vitamins A,D,Eand K, and the sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone and Testosterone].
* it also helps the neurological system of the body.
Types of cholesterol in the body.
There are three main types of cholesterol in the body..cholesterol is carried in the blood by molecules called lipoproteins. A lipoprotein is any complex or compound containing both lipid (fat) and protein. The three main types are:
LDL..(low density lipoprotein)-this is regarded as the bad cholesterol .it carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. When LDL is in excess the buildup can be harmful, increasing risk of arterial and heart disease.
HDL(high density lipoprotein).. The good cholesterol. HDL takes cholesterol from cells and returns it to the liver. It prevents arterial disease and is associated with better cardiovascular functioning..
TRIGLYCERIDES.. These are the chemical forms in which most fat exists in the body, as well as in food..They are present in blood plasma. Triglycerides, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids (blood fat).. Triglycerides in plasma originate either from fats in our food, or are made in the body from other energy sources, such as carbohydrates. Calories we consume but are not used immediately by our tissues are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells. When your body needs energy and there is no food as an energy source, triglycerides will be released from fat cells and used as energy- hormones control this process.
Why is HDL the good cholesterol?
HDL is the good cholesterol because it protects the arteries from the from the atherosclerosis process. HDL helps to extract cholesterol particles from the artery walls and transports them to the liver to be disposed through the bile. It also counters the accumulation of LDL cholesterol particles in the artery walls. Higher levels of HDL help to reduce the risk of heart disease whereas low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk. Like LDL cholesterol, life style factors and other conditions influence HDL cholesterol levels. HDL cholesterol levels tend to be lower in persons who smoke cigarettes, are overweight and inactive, and in people with type ll diabetes mellitus.
HDL cholesterol is higher in people who are lean, exercise regularly, and do not smoke cigarettes. Estrogen increases a person's HDL cholesterol, which explains why women generally have higher HDL levels than men do.
High cholesterol levels
The amount of cholesterol in human blood can varies. Below is a list of cholesterol levels and how most doctors would categorize them..
Mg/dL
.Desirable- less than 200 mg/dL
.Borderline high- 200-239 mg/dl
.High-240 mg/dL and above
Hope you getting to know what cholesterol is...in my next post I will be talking on What causes high cholesterol in the body? Like and share with your friends
thank
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