Lipids

Question 1

What is cholesterol?

Answer 1

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. You also get it from animal products.

Question 2

What is HDL cholesterol?

Answer 2

High density lipoprotein cholesterol, aka “good cholesterol”. Travels through the body and picks up excess circulating LDL to return it to the liver where it can be flushed away.

Question 3

What is LDL cholesterol?

Answer 3

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol, aka “bad” cholesterol. Build up of this type of cholesterol in arteries can raise risk of heart disease.

Question 4

What are non modifiable risk factors for high cholesterol?

Answer 4

age (risk increases with age); gender - women have lower LDL until menopause and men have lower HDL at all times; family history (genes, shared behaviors and lifestyle, shared environment).

Question 5

What are modifiable risk factors for high cholesterol?

Answer 5

Obesity and diabetes are risk factors. Eating a diet low in sat and trans fats; getting regular physical activity; not smoking are behaviors that lower risk.

Question 6

What are the ranges for a lipid panel?

Answer 6

Total cholesterol
Normal is less than 200 mg/dL, borderline high is 200–239 mg/dL, and high is 240 mg/dL or higher
HDL (good cholesterol)
Ideally above 60 mg/dL, 40–59 mg/dL is okay, and less than 40 mg/dL is low
LDL (bad cholesterol)
Optimal is less than 100 mg/dL, 100–129 mg/dL can be good, 130–159 mg/dL is borderline high, 160–189 mg/dL is high, and 190 mg/dL or higher is very high

Question 7

What are Lipoproteins?

Answer 7

Special proteins used to carry cholesterol and other fats in the blood

Question 8

What is plaque?

Answer 8

Buildup of cholesterol and other compounds in the walls of blood vessels, reduces bloodflow, and can lead to heart disease and stroke

Question 9

What health problems are caused by high LDL?

Answer 9

High levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease and stroke (and high HDL can lower risk)

Question 10

What are triglycerides?

Answer 10

Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy. High triglycerides, combined with high LDL and/or low HDL, can lead to heart attacks

Question 11

What are the symptoms for high cholesterol?

Answer 11

usually there are no symptoms, which is why regularly checking is important