So what are all these terms you see when you get a typical blood
test. How important are these numbers to you? Very important. On
an average blood test you may come across the terms LDL, VLDL, HDL,
triglycerides, and cholesterol. Controlling the amounts of each of
these in your bloodstream is extremely important for keeping your
cardiovascular system in working order. Knowing and understanding these
values can help you and your physician keep you healthy for years
to come.
What are Lipids?
Lipids are fat-like substances. The two major lipids that we are
concerned with are cholesterol and triglycerides. Both of these
lipids are manufactured by our own bodies and we can accumulate
extra amounts of each when we eat foods that contain them.
What is Cholesterol?
You cannot live without cholesterol. Your body needs it for normal
body functions. Cholesterol is an important part of all the cells
in your body and it helps carry fat through your bloodstream. Fat
cannot move through your bloodstream by itself because blood is
mostly made of water. Fat of course does not mix well at all with
water.
What are Lipoproteins?
Cholesterol moves though your bloodstream in "packages" called
lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are made of fat, cholesterol, and
protein. This combination allows the lipids to be transported
throughout your body much easier. The lipoproteins that carry fats
to our body organs are helpful because they aid in the regulation
of body functions, in providing the cells with energy, and in
storage for future usage. However an excess of some types of
lipoproteins can become dangerous.
What are HDL's, LDL's, and VLDL's?
The three major lipoproteins that you may become familiar with are
the LDL's, VLDL's, & HDL's. LDL cholesterol stands for Low-Density
Lipoprotein, VLDL cholesterol means Very-Low-Density Lipoproteins,
and HDL cholesterol is the High-Density Lipoprotein. LDL's are the
structures which carry cholesterol and VLDL's carry
triglyerides. LDL's are considered the "bad" lipoproteins because
it has been found that certain amounts of them in your bloodstream
can clog the blood vessels. This leads to heart disease. HDL's
are considered the "good" lipoproteins because they are capable of
removing excess lipids from body tissues and carry them away for
excretion. The measure of all the cholesterol found in all these
substances is called your total cholesterol and it is a very
important number to know.
