Is Cholesterol And Triglycerides The Same

Understanding Cholesterol: Hdl Ldl And Triglycerides

There are two types of grocery shoppersthose who race in with a list in hand and meticulously grab every item on the list before checking out and leaving, and those who meander up and down every aisle, not sure what they want until they see it on the shelf.

But within those two types, theres another shopper you may have seenthe label-reader. This person is health-conscious and examines the nutrition labels of food items before placing them in the cart.

One of the most important categories to check for on a food label is cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood. Your body needs some cholesterol, but too much can build up on the walls of your arteries and can lead to heart disease and stroke. Checking your risk for heart disease and stroke is as simple as getting a lipidpanel, which tests your blood cholesterol.

There are four important things checked in a lipid panel:

• Total cholesterol
• Low-density lipoproteins

HDL is known as the good cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol by carrying it back to the liver where it can be eliminated from the body. Its good to have a high HDL number. LDL is known as the bad cholesterol because having too much LDL may cause a buildup of plaque in your blood vessels. Triglycerides are also a type of fat found in your blood. High triglycerides, low HDL, and/or high LDL numbers can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Why Do We Need Cholesterol

Cholesterol plays a vital role in how your body works. There is cholesterol in every cell in your body, and its especially important in your brain, nerves and skin.

Cholesterol has three main jobs:

• Its part of the outer layer, or membrane, of all your bodys cells
• Its used to make vitamin D and steroid hormones which keep your bones, teeth and muscles healthy
• Its used to make bile, which helps to digest the fats you eat

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Good And Bad Cholesterol

You will often hear doctors and dietitians talk about two different types of cholesterol low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol . This way of talking about cholesterol is a convenient shorthand, but strictly speaking, it is not really correct.

Strictly speaking, as any good chemist will tell you, cholesterol is just cholesterol. One molecule of cholesterol is pretty much the same as another. So why do doctors talk about good and bad cholesterol?

The answer has to do with lipoproteins.

Lipoproteins. Cholesterol are lipids, and therefore do not dissolve in a water medium like blood. In order for lipids to be transported in the bloodstream without clumping together, they need to be packaged into small particles called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are soluble in blood, and allow cholesterol and triglycerides to be moved with ease through the bloodstream.

The behavior of the various lipoproteins is determined by the specific kinds of proteins that appear on their surface. Lipoprotein metabolism is quite complex, and scientists are still working out all the details. However, most doctors concern themselves with two major types of lipoproteins: LDL and HDL.

LDL Cholesterol Bad Cholesterol. In most people, the majority of the cholesterol in the blood is packaged in LDL particles. LDL cholesterol is often called bad cholesterol.

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Checking Your Blood Cholesterol Level

A cholesterol screening is an overall look at the fats in your blood. Screenings help identify your risk for heart disease. It is important to have what is called a full lipid profile to show the actual levels of each type of fat in your blood: LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and others. Talk with your healthcare provider about when to have this test.

The Difference Between Cholesterol And Triglycerides

The rapid increase in the size of the heart disease problem over the last few years has resulted in a growing awareness of the seriousness of the problem and the need for people to take steps to control the risk of cardiac disease. Medical research and hence treatment methods are getting more advanced by the day, but as even the best cardiologists would tell you, prevention is better than cure and therefore the need to check various parameters to keep them under control is of paramount importance.

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Among the number of factors and medical terms that relate to heart conditions are cholesterol and triglycerides. They are both lipids that are in the blood and high levels of either cause heart and circulation problems. Because they are both fats people often think of them as being the same thing, which is incorrect. They are different in the functions they perform and knowing about the difference is important to understanding what they do and how they affect heart health.

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Are Cholesterol And Triglycerides The Same Thing

Both cholesterol and triglycerides are lipids, but within this group, triglycerides are fats because of their composition and belong to a different class.

To answer the question of whether cholesterol and triglycerides are the same, we can already tell you that while they are both lipids, they are different because they come from different sources and have different functions in the body.

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Are Cholesterol And Triglycerides The Same

Both cholesterol and triglycerides are substances called lipids, but within this category, they belong to different groups due to their composition, the triglycerides being more referred to as fats.

Answering whether cholesterol and triglycerides are the same, we can already tell you that, although both are lipids, they are different since they have different origins and functions in your body.

As for the origin of these lipids in your body, cholesterol is produced in the liver mainly, although you can also incorporate it depending on the type of diet you eat, which is when its level tends to increase. At the same time, triglycerides are only present in your body when consuming food since they result from transforming the calories that you do not need, so if your diet is rich in calories. If you do not use them immediately, your blood triglyceride level will increase.

If we talk about the functions, cholesterol and triglycerides are not the same either since cholesterol is an essential part of your body for the construction of new cells and some hormones, it favors the production of bile, and it is necessary to manufacture vitamin D. It is a fundamental component of the covering of the nerves and the spinal cord.

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How To Lower Levels Of Triglycerides And Cholesterol

Prevention is the first step towards keeping your cholesterol levels within the recommended ranges.Here are some important lifestyle habits that help reduce and keep under control levels of cholesterol and triglycerides:

• Engage in regular physical activity. Physical activity is not only fundamental for losing weight, but also for keeping it off. Regular physical exercise contributes to the health of our heart. The effect of physical activity on triglyceride levels varies according to the intensity of the effort expended, the length of time and the calories used up during the activity.
• Follow a healthy diet: simple sugars, like fructose, can cause triglyceride levels to increase foods with a high saturated fat content cause an increase in bad cholesterol. It is advisable to eat foods containing complex carbohydrates and foods rich in fiber, like greens and whole grains instead of simple sugars, and increase the amount of food rich in mono and polyunsaturates .
• Keep your weight under control. In light of the continuing increase in overweight and obesity, it is fundamental to keep your weight under control from early childhood on, utilizing an approach designed to balance caloric intake through food with the calories you consume while engaging in physical activity.

Sometimes altering your lifestyle habits is not sufficient to keep cholesterol under control. In this case it is possible to undergo a pharmaceutical treatment and/or a treatment utilizing nutritional supplements.

When Someone Talks About Triglycerides Or Cholesterol Its Important To Know That This Isnt Just A Health Issue

If you hear the words cholesterol and triglycerides, you immediately associate them with the disease. Considering fat in the blood vessels, it is normal to think that they are the same. Even children can get them, although, older people are more vulnerable, which can be terrible and painful. But its important to understand what youre hearing when someone talks about triglycerides and cholesterol and to know that these arent just health issues. Cholesterol and triglycerides are both substances called fats, but because of their composition, they fall into different groups within this category. As for where these fats come from in the body, cholesterol is mainly produced in the liver, but it can also be ingested depending on the type of diet you eat, but generally speaking, it increases when you have only triglycerides in your body. Theyre the result of processing calories you dont need. So, if you eat high-calorie foods that arent burned right away, youll have more triglycerides in your blood.

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Understanding The Test Results

A full lipid profile can be an important part of your childs health information. It shows the levels of each type of fat in the blood. These include LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Your childs doctor can tell you what the results should be for your child. In general, healthy levels are:

• LDL of less than 130 mg/dL

• HDL of greater than 35 mg/dL

Some children and teens have families with high cholesterol or early heart disease. In these cases, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute advises these levels for cholesterol:

Total cholesterol

Adults

A lipid profile, which includes triglycerides, is recommended every 4 to 6 years to evaluate risk of heart disease in healthy adults. Children should have a lipid profile screening at least once between the ages of 9 and 11 and once again between the ages of 17 and 21.

Testing may be ordered more frequently when people have identified risk factors for heart disease. Some risk factors for heart disease include:

• Cigarette smoking

• Moves cholesterol from arteries to the liver.

LDL Low-density lipoprotein

• Makes up 60%70% of total cholesterol
• Main form of bad cholesterol
• Causes build-up of plaque inside arteries.

VLDL Very-low-density lipoprotein

• Makes up 10%15% of total cholesterol
• With LDL, the main form of bad cholesterol
• A precursor of LDL.

The numbers to know

How Often Should I Get A Cholesterol Test

When and how often you should get a cholesterol test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:

For people who are age 19 or younger::

• The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
• Children should have the test again every 5 years
• Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke

For people who are age 20 or older::

• Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
• Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years

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Why Do Triglycerides Matter

Knowing your triglyceride numbers and lowering triglycerides matter to prevent or control the following conditions:

• Hardening of the arteries and thickening of the artery walls: The higher your triglyceride levels, the more susceptible you are to heart disease. Clogged arteries can lead to a heart attack and stroke.
• Prediabetes and diabetes: These are strongly associated with poor blood glucose control. Additionally, high triglycerides may be a sign of metabolic syndrome a cluster of factors including high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and excess body weight.
• Acute pancreatitis: Although rare, hypertriglyceridemia triglyceride levels of over 1,000 mg/dL increase a persons risk and severity of pancreatitis.
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease : High triglycerides indicate the possibility of NAFLD, a condition in which triglycerides accumulate in liver cells. A diet high in carbs and fructose and a lack of physical activity contribute to this disease. NAFLD is also associated with other health problems, such as diabetes and kidney disease.

Myth: Eating Foods With A Lot Of Cholesterol Will Not Make My Cholesterol Levels Go Up

Fact: It can be complicated. We know that foods with a lot of cholesterol usually also have a lot of saturated fat. Saturated fats can make your cholesterol numbers higher, so its best to choose foods that are lower in saturated fats. Foods made from animals, including red meat, butter, and cheese, have a lot of saturated fats.

Instead, aim to eat foods with plenty of fiber, such as oatmeal and beans, and healthy unsaturated fats, such as avocados, olive oil, and nuts. Learn more about healthy diets and nutrition at CDCs nutrition, physical activity, and obesity website.

Talk with your health care provider about ways to manage your cholesterol. Learn more about medicines to lower cholesterol.

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What Affects The Test

Many conditions can affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels, including:

• Medicines, such as diuretics, corticosteroids, male sex hormones , tranquillizers, estrogen, birth control pills, antibiotics, and niacin .
• Physical stress, such as infection, heart attack, surgery.
• Other conditions, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or kidney or liver disease.
• Alcohol use disorder.
• Liver disease , malnutrition, or hyperthyroidism.
• Pregnancy. Values are the highest during the third trimester and usually return to the pre-pregnancy levels after delivery of the baby.

Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your other health problems.

Summary Cholesterol Vs Triglycerides

Triglycerides and cholesterols are lipids absorbed from the diet and synthesized by the liver. Triglycerides are the building blocks of the body fats. When there is a low level of blood glucose, triglycerides work as an energy source and produce energy. On the other hand, cholesterol is important to produce hormones and maintain the cell membrane. Excess amount of cholesterol gets deposited in the arteries and reduce the blood flow, increasing the risk of heart attacks. Similarly, high levels of triglycerides can cause atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Thus, regular exercise will help to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides from your body. This is the summary of the difference between cholesterol and triglycerides.

Reference:

1. âStructural Biochemistry/Lipids/Cholesterol.â Structural Biochemistry/Lipids/Cholesterol â Wikibooks, Open Books for an Open World, Available here.2. âTriacylglycerol: Structure & Function.â Study.com, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. âFat triglyceride shorthand formulaâ By Wolfgang Schaefer â author via Commons Wikimedia2. âCholesterol â By Wesalius â Own work via Commons Wikimedia

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How Is It Broken Down

Once in the blood stream, some cholesterol will be carried back to the liver and broken down. The liver uses cholesterol to make bile acids which are released into the intestines to help with digestion. They break down the fats in food.

A small amount of bile acids will leave the body as a waste product in your poo. But most will be absorbed back into the blood, returned to the liver and used again for digestion.

Some treatments for high cholesterol work by stopping bile from being absorbed back into the blood. The liver has to take more cholesterol out of the blood to make more bile, lowering your cholesterol levels.

Myth: I Cant Do Anything To Change My Cholesterol Levels

Fact: You can do many things to improve your cholesterol levels and keep them in a healthy range!

• Get tested at least every 5 years .1,2 Learn more about cholesterol screenings.
• Make healthy food choices. Limit foods high in saturated fats. Choose foods naturally high in fiber and unsaturated fats. Learn more about healthy diets and nutrition at CDCs nutrition, physical activity, and obesity website.
• Be active every day. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Learn more about physical activity basics and tips.
• Dont smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking damages your blood vessels, speeds up the hardening of the arteries, and greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you dont smoke, dont start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Learn more about tobacco use and ways to quit at CDCs smoking and tobacco use website.
• Talk with your health care provider about ways to manage your cholesterol if any medicines are given to you to manage your cholesterol, take them as they are prescribed. Learn more about medicines to lower cholesterol.
• Know your family history. If your parents or other immediate family members have high cholesterol, you probably should be tested more often. You could have a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia .

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How Long Does It Take To Lower Triglycerides

Depending on whats causing your high triglyceride levels, you may be able to lower them in just a few days. A night out drinking or eating foods high in sugar can cause a spike in your triglyceride levels. Limiting alcohol and sugar intake can bring your levels back to normal within a few days.

If you have consistently high triglycerides, it may take a few months for them to return to a healthy range. How fast they lower depends on the lifestyle changes, diet, and medications youre taking.

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 BloodHow 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?

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