Effects of bad cholesterol

Negative Effects of Cholesterol and Methods to Reduce It

People should exercise regularly, eat healthy food to live a disease free life which can help them to stay fit and live a longer life. This will help the person to maintain the cholesterol level. But it is very important for people to know about the negative effects of cholesterol on the body. Cholesterol can be good as well as bad for health.

HDL is a type of cholesterol which is required or is necessary for human body as it reduces the chances of blockage of arteries whereas LDL is a type of cholesterol which can be harmful to human body. Cholesterol is a fatty substance which gets blocked in the arteries as it is not soluble in blood. This can lead to problems like heart diseases and increases the chances of heart attacks. Hence managing the cholesterol level below the normal limit is very important.

People can maintain the cholesterol level by managing healthy food habits. People should also know about the food substances which can help them to reduce cholesterol level. Food substances like fruits, non-fat food products, garlic, green tea, fiber rich food, oaks etc are really very helpful to reduce cholesterol level.

People should also avoid food substances like packaged foods, snacks, full fat cheese products, red meat etc which are very rich in saturated fats. Unhealthy food eating habits give rise to increase in cholesterol which can be very harmful for human body. Many drug treatments can also be used to reduce the cholesterol level but natural treatments are always preferable.

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Good vs. Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol can't dissolve in the blood. It has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as "bad" cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as "good" cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol, make up your total cholesterol count, which can be determined through a blood test.

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.

HDL (Good) Cholesterol
About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also increase the risk of heart disease. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.

Triglycerides
Triglyceride is a form of fat made in the body. Elevated triglycerides can be due to overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of total calories or more). People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL (bad) level and a low HDL (good) level. Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.

Lp(a) Cholesterol
Lp(a) is a genetic variation of LDL (bad) cholesterol. A high level of Lp(a) is a significant risk factor for the premature development of fatty deposits in arteries. Lp(a) isn't fully understood, but it may interact with substances found in artery walls and contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits.

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