Understanding Heart Disease - Cholesterol (part 1 of 4)

Illustration of plague build up in an artery

Cholesterol is one of the fats in your blood.  It is used by your body to make cell membranes, Vitamin D and  hormones.  There are two main types of cholesterol:

• Low-density Lipoprotein (LDH) cholesterol - often referred to as the "bad" cholesterol (I  remember it as the "L" in the word "low" = Lousy) because high levels of LDH in the blood promotes the build-up of plaque in the artery walls. (see above illustration)
• High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - often referred to as the "good" cholesterol ( again, I remember this as the "H" in the word "high" = Healthy) because it helps carry the LDH cholesterol away from the artery walls.

Triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, however, they are a type of fat that is found in your blood.  High triglycerides are often associated with excess weight, excess alcohol consumption and diabetes.  Your triglyceride level is often measured at the same time as your blood cholesterol.

Next week -  Cholesterol related to heart disease and stroke.

All information contained in this post was taken from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick website.  Please visit their site for more information.

Monica

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.