Hdl Versus Ldl Cholesterol
Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body:
- High-density lipoprotein , also known as good cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver to expel it from the body so that its unlikely to end up in the arteries.
- Excessive build-up of low-density lipoprotein , also known as bad cholesterol, in the arteries may lead to an increased deposit of plaque known as atherosclerosis. This can increase the risk of blood clots and the chances of a stroke or heart attack. In addition, the plaque build-up might also decrease blood flow and oxygen to major organs and may lead to kidney disease or peripheral arterial disease.
Determination Of Blood Lipids Levels
Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured using automated enzymatic assays. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and LDL-C levels were measured using a chemical masking method . All measurements, including that of albumin, were carried out on a fully automatic biochemical analyser and performed by the expert who didnât know the details of the research . Non-HDL-C equals to TC minus HDL-C.
Difference Between Hdl And Ldl
January 12, 2011 Posted by Olivia
HDL vs LDL
For many people, the word cholesterol has been highly associated with negativities concerning ones overall health. People are avoiding the consumption of cholesterol with the belief that it can cause serious medical problems such as heart conditions. Little do most people know that there are actually two major types of cholesterol the body gets access to. Determining and understanding the difference between HDL and LDL is a good start to improve ones health condition.
LDL, or Low Density Lipoprotein, is just one of the five groups of lipoproteins in the body. Their main function is to allow the transport of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides through the bloodstream. LDL particles have the capacity to carry cholesterol to the artery and be retained there. As a result, macrophages are attracted, which causes plaques to be formed. The vulnerable ones end up rupturing while blood clotting starts to occur. All these can be manifested in a case of stroke or a heart attack.
Basically, LDL is considered to be the bad cholesterol. In cases when too much of LDL is present in the blood, it can be really harmful to the body. There are different methods of lowering the levels of LDL in the body. Medications that are equipped with HM-CoA reductase inhibiting properties can be really helpful. Dietary changes can also work in achieving this goal. Lessening the amount of body fats stored in the body is best way to do it.
Also Check: What Is Very High Cholesterol Number
Cholesterol Blood Test Results Explained Fasting Vs Nonfasting
A period of fasting is often required by a health care provider preceding a cholesterol blood test. Along with tests to look for diabetes that measure sugar, a lipid panel is one of few monitoring tests that require a period of not eating before the blood is taken. This is because a large meal or meals containing certain type of foods may interfere with or react with the results, which can indicate or refute the need for cholesterol medications or treatment plans based on inaccurate results.
However, there are some interesting things to point out when it comes to fasting and not fasting prior to a lipid panel. WebMD points out that the differences in results with regards cholesterol numbers have not been as widely skewed as anticipated when fasting and non fasting testers were compared in a recent study. In fact, in terms of LDL cholesterol, the variance in difference between those who ate and did not eat before the cholesterol blood test was nominal, and averaged at a less than 10% margin. LDL cholesterol is considered bad cholesterol and it is the substance that is associated with clogging arteries and contributing to heart disease and heart attacks. Monitoring the levels of LDL cholesterol are very important, but study results pointing to a less than ten percent margin of error may not be off enough to dispute high levels of LDL cholesterol if present.
What Is The Difference Between Hdl And Ldl Cholesterol
Cholesterol with its carrier lipoprotein is termed either as HDL cholesterol, or as LDL cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, seems to act as a scavenger and carries LDL, the bad cholesterol out of the arteries and back to the liver. LDL cholesterol contributes to fatty buildups in the arteries , which results in deposits of cholesterol that narrow the arteries and increases the risk for a heart attack, stroke, other heart diseases, and peripheral artery disease. Moreover, triglycerides also are in the blood. Triglycerides can increase the risk for these diseases if there are low levels of HDL and high levels of LDL in the blood.
What Are VLDL ?
VLDL are compounds in the plasma of the blood composed of triglycerides, small amounts of cholesterol, phospholipids, fat-soluble vitamins, and protein. VLDL transports fats primarily from the liver to peripheral sites. Unfortunately, VLDL has been associated with the development of plaque deposits that can restrict blood flow, like LDL. Restricted bloodstream flow to any artery, especially a coronary artery, can lead to high blood pressure and other serious cardiovascular problems.
Also Check: What Is Ldl Cholesterol Calcium
Think You Have High Cholesterol
There are a number of reasons that you may think that you have high cholesterol. Maybe you have a family history, a sedentary lifestyle or a diet that needs a touch up.
Whatever reason you might suspect for having high cholesterol, its good to know that its easier than ever to check your cholesterol levels.
Now, you have the ability to check your cholesterol from home. Order today and receive your results with additional one to one medical advice in a matter of days.
Where Is Cholesterol Made
Some cholesterol comes from the food we eat, but most is made in the liver in a complex 37-step process.
Cholesterol and another type of blood fat called triglycerides can’t circulate loosely in the blood, so the liver packages them into parcels called lipoproteins, including LDL and HDL cholesterol.
They are released into the blood to carry the fats around the body to wherever they’re needed.
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Whats Considered High Cholesterol
High cholesterol generally means your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher. But providers use additional categories like borderline high and near optimal to break down your results. If your numbers are close to normal levels, they may be easier to manage through lifestyle and dietary changes.
High cholesterol levels by age chart
The chart below shows cholesterol levels that are higher than normal. All units are mg/dL.
| Age |
|---|
Very high: 190 or higher
What Is High Cholesterol
There are two major forms of cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein or LDL, also known as âbadâ cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein or HDL, also called âgoodâ cholesterol. LDL is the main source of artery-clogging plaque. HDL, on the other hand, clears cholesterol from your blood.
Besides LDL and HDL, thereâs another kind of fat in your blood called triglycerides. Research shows that high levels of triglycerides, just like high levels of LDL, are linked to heart disease.
Your body needs cholesterol to build new cells, insulate nerves, and make hormones. Having too much, though, is a major risk for heart disease.
Ordinarily, your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you also get cholesterol from food. Youâll find these in many processed foods like doughnuts, frozen pizza, cookies, and crackers. You can also get it from milk, eggs, meat, and other animal products. Over time, without your even being aware, this extra cholesterol collects inside your body and begins to do damage.
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Know Your Cholesterol Levels
The first defense against out-of-whack cholesterol levels is knowledge. Once youâre aware of your current cholesterol levels, you can take steps to lower your LDL cholesterol level, increase your HDL cholesterol level, or both.
To determine your cholesterol levels, youâll need a lipid profileâa test result that comes from a blood sample. There are a few ways to obtain this result, including:
- Making an appointment with your healthcare provider
- Learning before taking an at-home test, such as the from Everlywell
Once you know how to compare HDL and LDL in your test results, a lipid profile can tell you if youâre doing everything right or if it might be time to change your habits. If you are wanting to take an at-home test it is important to properly learn how to test lipids and cholesterol levels because there are many options to choose from. Once you have decided on a test, you should learn how to understand cholesterol test results to better decipher your levels.
Main Difference Ldl Vs Triglycerides
Cholesterol is a substance produced inside our body it is also provided by certain types of food such as meat, butter, margarine, oils etc. Cholesterol is waxy in nature and does not dissolve in water. The key difference between LDL and triglycerides is that low density lipoprotein is a type of lipoprotein, which helps in the transportation of cholesterol in our body whereas Triglyceride is a form of dietary fat synthesized in the liver.
This article explores,
How to Calculate the Total LDL Level in Blood How to Control High Cholesterol Levels in Blood
3. What is Triglycerides? How to Reduce Triglycerides in the Body
4. What is the difference between LDL and Triglycerides?
Also Check: How Does Cholesterol Affect Health
Differences In Structure And Function
Lipoproteins are a complex of apolipoproteins and phospholipids. Good cholesterol is the smallest of all the lipid molecules, which are high-density molecules due to their high protein content. The function of good cholesterol is to transport cholesterol from the arteries and tissues to the liver and other organs such as ovary, adrenal glands, and testis. The cholesterol delivered to the liver is excreted into the bile, and then the intestines. The cholesterol transported to the other organs is used for the synthesis of steroid hormones. The other functions of HDL include their role in inhibiting oxidation, inflammation, activation of endothelium and coagulation.
An LDL molecule consists of a single Apo lipoprotein molecule which circulates the fatty acids. The main function of LDL is to transport cholesterol to tissues and arteries.
Uncontrollable High Cholesterol Risk Factors
- Gender: After menopause, a woman’s LDL cholesterol level goes up, as does their risk for heart disease.
- Age: Your risk may increase as you get older. Men 45 or older and women 55 or older have a higher risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.
- Family history: Your risk of high cholesterol may increase if a father or brother had high cholesterol or early heart disease or a mother or sister had early heart disease . You can also inherit a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia , which causes high LDL levels starting at a young age. Itâs rare, but left untreated, it can worsen over time. Talk to your doctor about whether to get a test for FH.
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Normal Cholesterol With High Triglycerides What Is That
When measuring total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein , high-density lipoprotein , and triglycerides are used in the measurement.
For adults, standard cholesterol levels are:
- Less than 200 mg/dL is desirable
- Between 200 – 239 mg/dL is considered borderline
- Over 240 mg/dL is considered high
Causes Of High Triglycerides
In many cases, habitual overeating causes high triglycerides. Occasionally, the trigger is an underlying condition such as:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Some types of liver disease
- Some types of kidney disease
- Some genetic disorders, including the inherited disease familial hypertriglyceridemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia .
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What Are Normal Cholesterol Levels
Normal cholesterol levels vary based on your age and sex assigned at birth.
Normal cholesterol levels by age chart
The chart below shows normal cholesterol levels. Healthcare providers consider these numbers healthy for most people. If you have heart disease or many risk factors, your LDL target may be different. Your healthcare provider may want your LDL level to be below 70 mg/dL. So, its important to talk with your provider about your test results and what they mean for you.
All units in the chart below are mg/dL.
| Age |
|---|
People assigned male at birth: 40 or higher
People assigned female at birth: 50 or higher
As you review your results, remember that you want your LDL to be low and your HDL to be high. Ideally, your HDL should be above 60. Its the helpful cholesterol. An HDL above 60 offers you protection against heart disease.
Sex-based differences
Most normal cholesterol levels are the same regardless of your sex. But there is one key difference among adults. Thats your HDL number. As the chart above shows, people assigned female at birth need a higher HDL level compared with people assigned male at birth .
How To Lower Your Cholesterol
If youve been told that you have high cholesterol or you just want to prevent it what can you do?
There are several ways to manage it, including:
Medication: Depending on your overall cardiovascular disease risk, you might be treated with a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin. The decision to use a statin is based on a womans overall risk for heart attack and stroke including all these factors and the LDL cholesterol value.
If you already have vascular disease or evidence of atherosclerosis, or if you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, a statin for prevention is strongly recommended because this treats the plaque in the arteries, and lowers LDL cholesterol, Michos says.
Diet and lifestyle:Diet and lifestyle are very important to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Even for women who are recommended to take cholesterol-lowering medications, a healthy lifestyle helps these drugs work better, says Michos.
Heres how to maintain a lifestyle that promotes healthy cholesterol levels:
Add these to your shopping list:
- Fatty fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines and albacore tuna
- Nuts, including walnuts, pecans, almonds and hazelnuts
- Olive oil to drizzle lightly over your salads and vegetables
While nobody wants to have high cholesterol, there are plenty of ways to keep it in check. With regular checkups and attention to what you eat, its possible to manage your cholesterol and blood fats to keep your heart healthy, says Michos.
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Not All Cholesterol Is Bad
We cannot survive without cholesterol in our bodies because it performs some key functions. It is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all the cells in the body and essential to the body’s functioning. Cholesterol helps make certain hormones, it allows for natural production of Vitamin D and it helps make up bile acids without which digestion would not be possible. It is also important to the formation of cell walls.
It gets a bad name because too much cholesterol may lead to a buildup of plaque known as atherosclerosis. This can increase the risk of blood clots, increasing your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
You can keep a check on your cholesterol levels by a simple blood test called the Lipid Profile. This test will reveal Total Cholesterol, the Good Cholesterol and the Bad Cholesterol.
The Pros And Cons Of Total Cholesterol Hdl Ldl And Triglyceride Testing
Time to get your cholesterol checked. Okay, but which test should you get? Itâs not so simple anymore. Here is a rundown of some of the choices and their pros and cons:
Total cholesterol. This is the simplest and least expensive test. The test doesnât require any sophisticated lab work, either. The simple, do-it-yourself home cholesterol tests measure total cholesterol.
But total cholesterol includes both âgoodâ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the âbadâ varieties, chiefly low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein . So, if your total cholesterol is in the desirable category, itâs possible that you may have unhealthy levels of HDL and LDL and VLDL . Think of total cholesterol as a first glimpse, a peek. Doctors are not supposed to make any treatment decisions based on this number alone.
Cholesterol levels can be lowered by stress or infection. An injury, cancer, stroke, or heart attack may have the same effect. So, if your cholesterol levels are unusually high or low, your doctor will probably want to repeat the test some weeks later. Abnormal readings may also lead to tests for other medical problems.
HDL cholesterol. HDL wins its laurels as the âgoodâ cholesterol because it sponges up cholesterol from blood vessel walls and ferries it to the liver for disposal. In contrast, LDL deposits the harmful fat in vessel walls.
Read Also: How To Bring Your Cholesterol Down
Are Test Results Accurate
Cholesterol testing is widely conducted to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease. Though they are widely depended on for this purpose, cholesterol tests are not 100% accurate. Some factors that can affect the accuracy of non-HDL cholesterol testing include:
- Active illness: A current infection or illness may influence blood cholesterol levels.
- Variability among individuals and labs: Stress and other individual factors may contribute to slight changes in cholesterol test results. In addition, different laboratory methods can return small variations in cholesterol levels from lab to lab.
- Some blood disorders: Although uncommon, certain blood disorders can cause HDL levels to be lower than they actually are. This can make a calculation of non-HDL cholesterol inaccurate.
The accuracy of point-of-care tests vary from brand to brand, but both laboratory tests and point-of-care tests can be used for cholesterol testing.
If you have any questions about the accuracy of a specific cholesterol test, you should raise those questions directly with the doctor who ordered the test.