The National Institutes of Health defines cholesterol as, “a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body. Your body needs cholesterol to make hormones and other substances but having too much of it in your blood is linked to higher risks of heart disease and stroke.” With this definition in mind, we have all heard that there is both good and bad cholesterol and have heard multiple acronyms and medical terms associated with cholesterol. This can be very confusing. Here is a basic guide to understanding cholesterol:
- LDLs (Low-Density Lipoproteins)– Bad Cholesterol- Forms in the blood and causes plaque to build-up in the walls of your arteries which can lead to atherosclerosis and eventually a heart attack if blood flow is completely blocked.
- HDLs (High-Density Lipoproteins)– Good Cholesterol- Forms in the liver and acts as a scavenger, seeking LDLs throughout the body; bringing them back to the liver to be broken down and eliminated.
- High Cholesterol– Occurs when the body has too much LDLs and not enough HDLs.
- Triglycerides– This is not a type of cholesterol, but the most common type of fat in the body that is measured along with cholesterol to determine one’s risk for coronary artery disease. The higher the triglyceride level, the higher the risk.
If you do not know your cholesterol levels, a simple blood test administered by your healthcare provider, is a first step in taking control of your health. You may walk-in to any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, or you may schedule an appointment by visiting our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.
Source: https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterol.html