How Much Do You Know About Cholesterol?

The word "cholesterol" comes from the Greek word chole, meaning "bile", and the Greek word stereos, meaning "solid, stiff".

Cholesterol is a lipid (fat) which is produced by the liver.

Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body and food. Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75 percent of blood cholesterol. The other 25 percent comes from the foods you eat. Cholesterol is only found in animal products! ( So aware your intake of meat!!)

What are the functions of cholesterol?

• It builds and maintains cell membranes (outer layer), it prevents crystallization of hydrocarbons in the membrane
• It is essential for determining which molecules can pass into the cell and which cannot (cell membrane permeability)
• It is involved in the production of sex hormones (androgens and estrogens)
• It is essential for the production of hormones released by the adrenal glands (cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone, and others)
• It aids in the production of bile
• It converts sunshine to vitamin D. Scientists from the Rockefeller University were surprised to find that taking vitamin D supplements do not seem to reduce the risk of cholesterol-related cardiovascular disease.
• It is important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K
• It insulates nerve fibers

So...actually, cholesterol does wonders to our body if it was in the desire range. 

All adults age 20 or older should have a fasting lipoprotein profile — which measures total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides — once every five years. 

But....if you have any of the below, do yearly checkup :) 

• Your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more.
• You are a man over age 45 or a woman over age 50.
• Your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL.
• You have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

There are three main types of lipoproteins

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) - people often refer to it as bad cholesterol. LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. If too much is carried, too much for the cells to use, there can be a harmful buildup of LDL. This lipoprotein can increase the risk of arterial disease if levels rise too high. 


• HDL (high density lipoprotein) - people often refer to it as good cholesterol. Experts say HDL prevents arterial disease. HDL does the opposite of LDL - HDL takes the cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver. In the liver it is either broken down or expelled from the body as waste.


• 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. 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.

The normal range of your blood cholesterol level...

A little diagram to show the normal blood vessel and the one with cholesterol plaque deposited.

Now, how much do you understand about cholesterol??

To know, you can try out the quiz at the link below :)

http://www.medicinenet.com/high_cholesterol_hyperlipidemia_quiz/quiz.htm



References:

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/SymptomsDiagnosisMonitoringofHighCholesterol/How-To-Get-Your-Cholesterol-Tested_UCM_305595_Article.jsp

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152.php

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