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Cholesterol is a sterol, a lipid found in cell membranes of all body tissues, and is transported in the blood plasma of all human beings and animals. It's a vital part of a healthy body because it's used to form cell membranes, some hormones and is needed for other functions. But a high level of cholesterol in the blood - hypercholesterolemia - is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.
Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. In recent years, cholesterol
has been categorized into two types: Good and bad. Two types of lipoproteins and their quantity in the blood are main factors in heart disease risk:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) -- According to lipid hypothesis, LDL has harmful affects. This "bad" cholesterol is the form in which cholesterol is carried into the blood and is the main cause of harmful fatty buildup in arteries. The higher the LDL cholesterol level in the blood, the greater the heart disease risk.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-HDL has beneficial results. This "good" cholesterol carries blood cholesterol back to the liver, where it can be eliminated. HDL helps prevent a cholesterol buildup in blood vessels. On the other hand, Low HDL levels increase heart disease risk.
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