Understanding the Different Types of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of waxy fat that travels through your bloodstream to every part of your body. Your liver manufactures whatever cholesterol your body needs. The problem is, animal-derived foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy also contain cholesterol, so it’s easy to have higher levels than your body can handle.

At Broadway Family Clinic in Pearland, Texas, board-certified family physicians Dr. Kashif Siddiqui and Dr. Sumera Muzaffar understand that high cholesterol is the main cause of heart disease and strokes, but it may remain undetected because it doesn’t have symptoms. That’s why they test your blood at your annual physical exam; it’s highly treatable if detected early.

Cholesterol, though, isn’t a single type of molecule, so it’s important to understand the different types and what they do in your body. Here’s what you need to know.

What is cholesterol, and what does it do?

Cholesterol plays an important role in many systems. Your body needs it to build cell membranes, produce some hormones and vitamin D, and make a component of bile, which the liver uses to help you digest food.

Understanding the different types of cholesterol

Cholesterol is shuttled through the body by one of three lipoproteins:

1. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), called “the bad cholesterol”
2. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), called “the good cholesterol”
3. Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), which carry triglycerides, another type of fat

LDL is called the “bad” cholesterol, and HDL is called the “good.” The reason is the lipoproteins’ job as transport molecules.

When LDL binds to cholesterol, it mixes with proteins, other fats, and cell debris and creates plaques on the walls of your arteries, the vessels that deliver oxygenated blood to your body. The deposits narrow the arteries, making your heart work harder to pump blood and raising your blood pressure. They also produce blockages that can lead to heart attack or stroke.

As the plaque builds up, it hardens, and you develop what’s known as atherosclerosis, commonly known as “hardening of the arteries.” It’s a major cause of circulatory system problems like peripheral arterial disease (PAD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and carotid artery disease.

What’s more, the fats linked to high LDL cholesterol levels are the unhealthy saturated and trans fats, so by consuming those fats, you raise your LDL levels. Reducing those fats in your diet can help your overall numbers.

When HDL binds to cholesterol, it removes other types of cholesterol and lipoproteins, including LDL, from the bloodstream; that makes it a “good” molecule. It deposits them in the liver, which eliminates them from the body. Current research suggests high HDL levels may decrease your risk for developing heart disease.

Triglycerides, which is the most common form of fat in your body, often comes from foods like butter and oil. However, it can also come from “extra” calories, those above and beyond what your body needs right now for energy. The body converts the extra calories into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells to use at a later time.

High triglyceride levels, like LDL, raise your risk for a number of heart diseases, including carotid artery disease, PAD, and CAD.

What to do about high cholesterol

If your cholesterol is high, your Broadway Family Clinic physician discusses how to make lifestyle changes to reduce the levels, including:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet
• Lose excess weight
• Get more exercise (30 minutes a day)
• Give up smoking

Sometimes, lifestyle changes aren’t enough; you may also need cholesterol medications like the various statins to lower your levels.

Have you had your cholesterol levels checked recently? If not, schedule an appointment with Broadway Family Clinic to discuss your numbers and risk factors. To get started, give our office a call at 346-857-0603, or book online with us today.