Cholesterol: Do You Know The Different Types?

Myth: All cholesterol is bad for you !!

Fact: Some types of cholesterol are essential for good health. Your body needs cholesterol to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and building cells. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins.

Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body:

•High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol.

•Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called “bad,” cholesterol

HDL (High-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, sometimes called “good” cholesterol, absorbs cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver. The liver then flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. This is why it’s important to have high levels of HDL in your blood.

2.LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) – The “Bad” Type

LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to the buildup of plaque in your arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, it’s important to manage your LDL levels through regular exercise, a healthy diet, and medications if necessary.

Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL):

LDL can delve a bit deeper into VLDL (Very low-density lipoprotein) containing the highest amount of triglycerides among lipoproteins. Triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates through your blood. Triglycerides play a pivotal role in providing energy to your body’s cells, but they can also put your health at risk if their levels are too high.

VLDL transports triglycerides produced by the liver to the body’s cells. As VLDL triglycerides are broken down, they release fatty acids, contributing to the formation of LDL cholesterol.

Where to get tested for your lipid profile?

Visit your nearest Caring Pharmacy Today! Caring Pharmacy is providing cholesterol testing service. It’s important to interpret these values in conjunction with other risk factors, and healthcare professionals use them to assess an individual’s cardiovascular risk and develop appropriate strategies for prevention or management.