What
Is LDL Cholesterol?
LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
or low density lipoprotein (LDL) - is a substance
found within the body that is used to transport
cholesterol to tissues that need it. It is also
known as "bad cholesterol."
In
order to get to all of your cells, cholesterol needs
to travel through the bloodstream. But because cholesterol
is a fat, it separates from the blood similar to
the way that oil separates from water.
In
order to prevent this from happening, proteins form
a shell around the cholesterol, creating a "cholesterol
complex." It is then released into the bloodstream
and travels to where it needs to go.
A protein
that is linked to cholesterol to form this cholesterol
complex is called a "lipoprotein." There
are several different types of lipoproteins. When
talking about cholesterol, though, we normally talk
about two types of lipoproteins. One is good and
the other can be bad. You have probably
heard about "good cholesterol" and "bad
cholesterol." However, in both good cholesterol
(HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL), the cholesterol
is the same; what makes it good or bad is the type
of lipoprotein it is within.
Normally,
LDLs transport cholesterol from your liver and deliver
it to the tissues that need it.
But
if you have a lot of LDLs left over after all of
your tissues have been taken care of, the LDLs will
"let go" of the extra cholesterol while
traveling through your blood. This LDL cholesterol
can build up on the walls of your arteries (blood
vessels that carry blood from the heart to other
parts of the body). This buildup of cholesterol
is called plaque, and over time, it can cause narrowing
or hardening of the arteries. This condition is
called atherosclerosis.
Conclusion.
