Know Your Cholesterol Level
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to function and makes all the cholesterol it needs in order to keep you healthy. It is also present in some of the foods we eat. It is used to make hormones, Vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods.
Cholesterol is an important substance that is crucial to many biochemical processes in your body,including synthesis of several hormones, homeostasis and membrane transport. In principle, your liver can produce all the cholesterol your body needs.
What is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?
Blood is a watery like substance and cholesterol is an oily one. As a result the two do not mix well together. So for it to travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried in packages called lipoproteins. These packages are made of fat (lipo) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL).
Cholesterol is transported in blood stream by lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are complex spherical particles which carry fat and cholesterol inside. There is a variety of lipoproteins in the blood. Most of us have heard of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Other lipoproteins include chylomicrons, very low- density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL).
High concentrations of LDL and lower concentrations of HDL are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Cholesterol can build up in your arteries and make them more narrow and harden. Eventually, too much cholesterol might completely block an artery. A heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart muscles is blocked. A stroke occurs when blood supply to your brain is blocked.
Most people do not know that they have high cholesterol as there may be no symptoms. High cholesterol can be detected by a simple test. If you are 20 years old or older, you should check your cholesterol level every five years.