What Type Of Lipid Is Cholesterol

What Is A Healthy Blood Cholesterol Level

For people who have plaque in their arteries or who have other factors that put them at risk for cardiovascular disease, doctors recommend an ideal LDL level well below 70 mg/dl. For those without risk factors who have an LDL level at or above 190 mg/dl, the recommendation is to get this level down to below 100 mg/dl. People age 40 to 75 who are living with diabetes and whose LDL is at 70 or above may need medication.

Biosynthesis And Vitamin Absorption

Biosynthesis, another key function of the body, is made possible by lipids. Lipids produce the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K:

• Vitamin A is vital for your immune system and vision as well as reproduction.
• Vitamin D aids in immune health and bone strength.
• Vitamin E boosts the immune system, helps prevent blood clots, and safeguards cells from free radicals, functioning as an antioxidant.
• Vitamin K aids in bone health and helps your body heal safely from injuries with the ability to form blood clots.

These are only some of the vital benefits and functions of these important vitamins. Lipids also transport and assist in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K, the bodys fat-soluble vitamins.

How Do You Prepare For A Cholesterol Test

In most cases, youll need to fast for nine to 12 hours before the test. Make sure you tell the person drawing your blood how long it has been since you ate or drank anything that wasnt water.

There are some cases when a cholesterol test is done without fasting. This is true for tests done at health screenings and may be true for people younger than 20 or for people who are unable to fast.

Some medical societies believe that fasting is not necessary to get a true picture of lipid levels in the blood, while other associations stand by the belief that fasting gives a better idea of a persons heart disease risk. You should be clear on whether or not you need to fast, and for how long, before you go for the blood test.

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Medical History And Physical Exam

Your doctor will ask about your eating habits, physical activity, family history, medicines you are taking, and risk factors;for heart or blood vessel diseases.

During your physical exam, your doctor will check for signs of very high blood cholesterol, such as xanthomas, or signs of other health conditions that can cause high blood cholesterol.

Are Test Results Accurate

Cholesterol testing is routine and reliable. While no test is 100% accurate, careful laboratory procedures help ensure dependable test results. If proper test procedures and preparation are followed, including fasting when needed, false positive or false negative results are rare.

Point-of-care lipid testing, which is performed on-site and not in a laboratory, has more variability than laboratory testing but still provides a meaningful reference point for measuring cholesterol. When point-of-care or at-home tests show abnormal lipid levels, follow-up testing is often recommended in a certified laboratory.

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Can I Take The Test At Home

There are two primary ways that lipid testing can be done at home:

• You take a small blood sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis.
• You prick your finger and put a small drop of blood on a piece of paper. The paper either changes color or is analyzed by a small machine to determine cholesterol levels.

When Should You Contact Your Healthcare Provider About Your Cholesterol Levels

In truth, your healthcare provider will probably talk to you about your numbers first. As always, contact your provider if you have any new or worsening pain or other uncomfortable feelings. Make sure you know what medications you take and what they are expected to do. Call the provider if you have a reaction to the medicine.

Before you go to the office, and after you have had a cholesterol test, it helps to have a list of questions prepared about your test results and any proposed treatment.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

When considering cholesterol numbers, its important to remember that you really have the ability to make those numbers go in your favor. What you choose to eat, how much you are able to move and how you deal with lifes ups and downs are things that you can influence.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/31/2020.

References

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What Kind Of Test Measures Cholesterol

Everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every five years. Your healthcare provider will order a blood test that will indicate how much cholesterol is carried in your bloodstream. This test will give your cholesterol levels. Your provider might also order what is called a lipid panel or a lipid profile. The panel gives you the following numbers:

• Total cholesterol.
• Non-HDL cholesterol.
• Ratio between cholesterol and HDL.

There are advanced tests that break down the size and shapes of LDL cholesterol levels, and also give the LDL particle number, but those are not normally ordered. Some test makers say that the more advanced tests are better at indicating who is at risk for heart disease, but most providers still feel that the usual tests are adequate.

Skin Care And Cosmetics

Lipids are used in the cosmetics industry for the production of various skin care and beauty products, such as lotions and creams. Cosmetics and skincare manufacturers add lipids to the formulations of their products for skin moisturization, protection, and repair, and for aesthetic benefits including smoother, more radiant skin with an overall improved appearance.

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How Do I Know What My Hdl Level Is

A blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including HDL. When and how often you should get this 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

What Are Lipids Made Up Of

Lipids are made up of a glycerol molecule attached to three fatty acid molecules. Such a lipid is called triglyceride.

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What Is A Normal Ldl Level

A normal LDL level is 130 mg per dL or less. When the LDL level is higher than 130, fat can build up in the walls of your blood vessels. This fat can plug up your arteries and keep the blood from flowing through them. If an artery going to your heart gets blocked, you might have a heart attack. If an artery going to your brain gets blocked, you might have a stroke. A high LDL level causes heart disease, stroke, poor circulation and kidney disease.

What Does The Test Measure

Lipids are types of fat molecules in the blood. Cholesterol and triglycerides are two important types of lipids that are carried inside particles called lipoproteins.

The lipid panel analyzes your blood to measure different types of lipids:

• Total cholesterol:;This measures your overall cholesterol level.
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol:;This type of cholesterol, known as bad cholesterol, can collect in blood vessels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol:;This type of good cholesterol helps reduce the buildup of LDL.
• Triglycerides: Excess amounts of this type of fat are associated with cardiovascular disease and pancreatic inflammation.

While these are the principal measurements in the standard lipid panel, some versions of the test may report additional measurements.

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How To Check Your Cholesterol

A cholesterol test will usually measure your LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels sometimes called a lipid test. This can either be done through your GP or with a private home blood test.;

VLDL is difficult to measure directly. A lab will usually use your triglyceride levels to estimate your VLDL levels usually about of your triglyceride level.

By understanding which types of cholesterol are out of range, you can focus on lifestyle factors that can improve each type specifically.

Improving Health With Current Research

Learn about the following ways the NHLBI continues to translate current research into improved health for people who have high blood cholesterol. Research on this topic is part of the NHLBIs broader commitment to advancing;heart and vascular disease;scientific discovery.

Learn about some of the pioneering research contributions we have made over the years that have improved clinical care.

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Where Does Cholesterol Come From

The liver is responsible for managing the levels of LDL in the body. It manufactures and secretes LDL into the bloodstream. There are receptors on liver cells that can “monitor” and try to adjust the LDL levels. However, if there are fewer liver cells or if they do not function effectively, the LDL level may rise.

Diet and genetics both play a factor in a person’s cholesterol levels. There may be a genetic predisposition for familial hypercholesterolemia where the number of liver receptor cells is low and LDL levels rise causing the potential for atherosclerotic heart disease at a younger age.

In the diet, cholesterol comes from saturated fats that are found in meats, eggs, and dairy products. Excess intake can cause LDL levels in the blood to rise. Some vegetable oils made from coconut, palm, and cocoa are also high in saturated fats.

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The goal is to have patients modify lifestyle and diet to maintain cholesterol levels within the normal range. It is important to remember that HDL may protect a patient from heart disease and it may be a treatment goal to raise a too low level of HDL.

How Is It Broken Down

Once in the blood stream, some cholesterol will be returned to the liver and broken down. Its used to make bile acids which are released into the intestines to help with digestion; bile acids break down the fats in food.

A small amount of bile acids will be removed from 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.

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If Cholesterol Is Necessary Why Do We Have To Worry About How Much We Have

Having enough cholesterol to meet your needs is important. Having too much cholesterol can cause problems. If your cholesterol levels are high, the condition is called hypercholesterolemia. If your cholesterol levels are low, the condition is called hypocholesterolemia. It is not common to have cholesterol levels that are too low, but it can happen.

Signs Symptoms And Complications

High bad LDL cholesterol usually does not cause;symptoms, so most people do not know they have it until they are tested during a routine doctors visit. Very high levels may cause symptoms such as fatty bumps on your skin, called;xanthomas, or grayish-white rings around the corneas in your eye, called;corneal arcus. These mostly develop in people who have familial hypercholesterolemia.

Undiagnosed or untreated high blood cholesterol can lead to serious problems, such as heart attack and stroke.

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How Can You Prevent High Cholesterol Levels And Coronary Heart Disease

Prevention methods are very much the same as treatment methods. First, dont smoke. If you do smoke, make plans to quit now. Find ways to add physical activity to each of your days. Take steps to keep your weight in a healthy range. Eat well. Consider following the Mediterranean diet. It is the only diet proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Take care of any other medical conditions you might have by following your healthcare providers advice and instructions. Learn to really relax and calm down.

What You Can Do About Abnormal Lipid Levels

Lifestyle changes are the first thing to tackle to reduce your chance of heart disease. Your doctor may also recommend that you start taking prescription drugs to help your cholesterol level.

Lifestyle habits to lower cholesterol

A cholesterol-lowering diet can bring down bad cholesterol by up to 30%. A diet low in saturated fat and simple carbohydrates and that has no more than 200 miliigrams of cholesterol daily can lower LDL cholesterol. Fiber and plant sterols help, too.

Keep these dietary tips in mind:

• Cut saturated fat to less than 7% of your total calories.
• Avoid trans fat completely. Check the ingredients label for âpartially hydrogenatedâ oils. Those are trans fats. Even if a product says “0 grams trans fat,” it can have a small amount of trans fat , and that adds up.
• Read food labels. Products that say âlow cholesterolâ or âno cholesterolâ could be too high in saturated fats or sugar.

Regular aerobic exercise can lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol . If you smoke, quit.

Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and weight loss are also effective ways to improve your triglyceride levels. Ask your doctor for a sensible diet that will help. If you smoke, get suggestions on ways to help you quit.

Medications and procedures

Your doctor may prescribe:

Statins available in the U.S. are:

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What Factors Affect Cholesterol Levels

A variety of factors can affect your cholesterol levels. They include:

• Diet: Saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in the food you eat increase cholesterol levels. Try to reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in your diet. This will help lower your blood cholesterol level. Saturated and trans fat have the most impact on blood cholesterol.
• Weight: In addition to being a risk factor for heart disease, being overweight can also increase your triglycerides. Losing weight may help lower your triglyceride levels and raise your HDL.
• Exercise: Regular exercise can lower total cholesterol levels. Exercise has the most effect on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
• Age and sex: As we get older,cholesterol levels rise. Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, however, womens LDL levels tend to rise and HDL can drop.
• Heredity: Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.

How Is The Total Cholesterol Or Blood Cholesterol Test Done

A blood test is a routine test. A phlebotomist is the person whose job it is to draw blood. Blood is usually drawn from the vein in your arm. You will sit down and the phlebotomist will wrap a rubber band around your upper arm so that the vein in your elbow sticks out. Then they will use a needle to puncture the vein and remove blood. The blood is sent to the lab to be examined.

Youve probably been at health fairs where testing is offered. In that case, the person performing the test takes a drop of blood from your finger. The finger stick test uses a small blade to poke a hole in the tip of your finger to get the blood.

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Is Cholesterol A Carbohydrate Lipid Or Protein

lipidscholesterolCholesterollipidproteincholesterollipid

Cholesterol Cholesterol is one of several types of fats that play an important role in your body. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all cells of body. Two of the lipoproteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body are LDL and HDL.

Likewise, is glycogen a carbohydrate or lipid? Monosaccharides and disaccharides are water soluble and easier to transport to and from storage sites than lipids. Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen in animals while lipids are stored as fats

Similarly, is DNA a carbohydrate lipid or protein?

Monomers are the building blocks of the four basic macromolecules of life- monosaccharides are the monomers of carbohydrates, amino acids are the monomers of proteins, glycerol/fatty acids are the monomers of lipids, and nucleotides are the monomers of DNA.

Does cholesterol contain carbohydrates?

This is measured by standard blood cholesterol panels and is classically considered the ‘bad’ cholesterol. High carbohydrate diets increase VLDL secretion and raise blood triglyceride levels by 30-40%. Therefore, it is no surprise that reducing dietary carbohydrates and fructose effectively lowers blood triglycerides.

How Is High Cholesterol Treated

There are several ways to lower high blood cholesterol , including lifestyle changes or medication, or both. Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine which therapy is best for you.

Lifestyle modifications

Healthcare providers like to start with the least invasive treatments when possible, such as lifestyle changes. Youll be advised to:

• Avoid tobacco. If you do smoke, quit. Smoking is bad for you in many ways, and reducing your level of good cholesterol is one of them.
• Change the way you eat. Limit the amount of trans fats and saturated fat. Eat heart-healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and whole grains. Limit red meat, sugary products and dairy products made with whole milk.
• Get more exercise. Try to get about 150 minutes of physical activity every week, or about 30 minutes per day for most days of the week.
• Keep a healthy weight. If you need to lose weight, talk to your healthcare provider about safe ways to do this. Youll see results even before you reach your ideal weight. Losing even 10% of your body weight makes a difference in your cholesterol levels.
• Reduce the effect of negative emotions. Learn healthy ways to deal with anger, stress or other negative emotions.
• Control blood sugar and blood pressure. Make sure you follow your healthcare providers instructions for blood sugar levels, especially if you have diabetes, and for keeping blood pressure in the healthy range.

Medications

• Atorvastatin .
• Simvastatin .
• Pitavastatin .

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