Guide To The Different Types Of Cholesterol

Triglycerides

The liver makes triglycerides from carbohydrates and proteins. Used as an energy source by all of the cells in the body other than brain cells, triglycerides are the most concentrated form of energy found within the body. They function as storage containers for fat, and they are mostly stored in fat cells; some muscle cells also store triglycerides. Since triglycerides are made from carbohydrates and proteins, many individuals naturally have high triglycerides during the two hours immediately after a meal, and elevated triglycerides can sometimes persist for up to nine hours after eating. High triglyceride levels affect approximately ten percent of the population, and they are especially common in male patients and Caucasians. As with low-density lipoproteins, having an excessive amount of triglycerides in the blood is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and strokes. Patients with elevated triglycerides will not normally have any symptoms, and most individuals only find out about their elevated levels if they undergo a cholesterol test. Current guidelines state triglycerides should be below 150mg/dL, and triglyceride readings are considered high if they are 200mg/dL or above. Patients with readings of 500mg/dL or more are categorized as having very high levels.

Benefits And Risks Of Cholesterol

An understanding of the benefits and risks of cholesterol can help patients in planning appropriate lifestyle modifications and exploring possible medication options. Cholesterol is used by the body in the production of all of the sex hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. The body also needs cholesterol to properly use vitamin D, and it is used by serotonin receptors in the brain. It is crucial in the production of the bile salts that support digestion and the absorption of dietary fats, and it aids in the repair of damaged cells. However, excessive cholesterol contributes to hardening and narrowing of the arteries, and this can cause circulation problems that increase a patient's risk for heart attacks, strokes, and early death. A study conducted in Framingham, Massachusetts followed the entire population of that town for fifty years. At the thirty-year mark, eighty-five percent of patients with total cholesterol of 180mg/dL or less were still living. In contrast, only sixty-seven percent of the subjects with total cholesterol readings of 260mg/dL or greater were still alive. In a study of young men in their twenties and thirties, the risk of a fatal heart attack was found to be five times greater for individuals with total cholesterol readings of 300mg/dL or more than it was for patients with total cholesterol levels under 200mg/dL.