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Common Questions about Cholesterol
Cholesterol FAQs
Below are some quick answers to the most often asked questions about
cholesterol.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat like substance found in the cells of humans and
animals.
How is cholesterol produced?
Cholesterol is produced naturally by the body, through liver production,
and also arrives into the body through dietary intake, specifically animal
products.
What is good cholesterol?
Good cholesterol is associated with high density lipoproteins (HDL). HDLs
travel away from the arteries and are believed to remove excess
cholesterol from the body. For this reason, HDLs are linked to lower risk
of heart disease and stroke.
What is bad cholesterol?
Bad cholesterol is associated with low density lipoproteins (LDL). LDLs,
unlike HDLs, carry cholesterol in the blood to the body's cells, causing
increased cholesterol and fat to be deposited in the arteries. The fatty
deposits create plaque buildup in the arteries, and can cause blood clots,
thereby increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
What are lipoproteins?
Lipoproteins are a combination of fat and protein, and serve to carry
cholesterol throughout the body. The terms 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol
are confusing in the sense that they actually refer to lipoproteins.
Can LDLs and HDLs be controlled?
Yes. Research has shown that medications can reduce bad cholesterol
levels, as can dietary intake. Some researchers believe that exercise
increases the level of HDLs in the body.
How is cholesterol created?
Cholesterol arrives into the blood stream in two ways. The first is within
the body, primarily through liver production. This is the natural way of
producing cholesterol. The second is through dietary intake, particularly
animal products, such as meat, eggs, cheese and poultry.
What function does cholesterol serve?
Cholesterol is necessary for the body's functioning. Cholesterol serves a
number of functions, including the formation of bile acids that are
required for fat digestion, the formation of vitamin D in the skin, and
the manufacturing of some hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen.
Homepage
|
Lipitor
| About
Cholesterol
|
Cholesterol & the Body
|
Cholesterol & Triglycerides
|
Cholesterol & Dietary Fats
Cholesterol in Children
|
Cholesterol FAQs
|
Understanding Lipids
|
The Lipid Panel Test
|
Web Resources