Cooperate W/ Your Cholesterol Essay, Research Paper

Cooperate with your Cholesterol

Cholesterol is an important part of cell membranes and is vital to the structure and function of all cells in your body. However, cholesterol is a pre-dominant substance in atherosclerotic plaque, which may develop in arteries and impede the flow of blood. Cholesterol is not the only lipid circulating in your blood stream. Triglycerides are another form of fat that circulates in the blood. Cholesterol and triglycerides, being fats, cannot dissolve in water. Therefore, to circulate through your blood, which is mainly water, they must be carried by protein packages called apoproteins. The combination of apoprotein and lipid is known as lipoproteins.

The main type of lipoproteins is Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL is a combination of 25% apoproteins and 45% cholesterol. It provides cholesterol for necessary body functions but in excessive amounts, it promotes cholesterol accumulation in the artery walls. High-density cholesterol is a combination of 50% apoprotein and 20% cholesterol. HDL tends to help remove excess cholesterol from your blood. Therefore, a relatively low ratio of LDL to HDL is desirable for lowering your risk for development of coronary artery disease.

Lipid levels andCoronary Risk Desirable Borderline High Risk

Total cholesterol 240

LDL 160

Triglycerides 500

HDL > 45 35-45