Blood helps to transport cholesterol through the body. Because cholesterol is a lipid, it doesn't mix with water. Blood, however, is made up of a substantial amount of water. Therefore, in order to move cholesterol through the bloodstream, the body wraps it in proteins, forming lipoproteins. The lipoproteins glide through the bloodstream like microscopic submarines carrying cargoes of cholesterol to destinations in the body.
 Blood tests are needed to determine how much of your cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoproteins (good) and low-density lipoproteins (bad). See more pictures of cholesterol. |
Two other types of lipoproteins include very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and chylomicrons. VLDLs carry triglycerides (fat molecules) that are made in the liver, along with some cholesterol, to cells where the triglycerides can be stored. Depositing the triglycerides in the cells leaves mostly cholesterol, turning the VLDLs into plain old LDLs. Chylomicrons are responsible for picking up dietary cholesterol from the intestines after it has been absorbed from food.
The level of cholesterol in your blood is expressed in "milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)," which indicates the weight of the cholesterol found in one deciliter of blood. Blood-cholesterol tests usually measure the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. Tests and calculations can also be performed to see how much of that cholesterol is contained in the form of LDLs and HDLs.
If cholesterol is normally present in your blood, why should you worry about it? The reason is that the total amount of cholesterol in your blood reveals how efficiently your body is using and managing cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol in your blood may mean that something is going wrong with how your body is using cholesterol.
When more of the cholesterol in your blood is being carried by HDLs, the "good" cholesterol, there is less danger of cholesterol accumulating in the body. If LDLs, the "bad" cholesterol, are carrying more of the cholesterol, the balance is tipped in favor of cholesterol remaining in the body.
We'll start out by learning about the "bad" form of cholesterol. The next page explains LDL cholesterol.
For more information on cholesterol, see:
- Cholesterol Tests: To keep your cholesterol under control, first you must determine what your cholesterol levels are. Learn what all the numbers mean.
- Consequences of High Cholesterol: High cholesterol can lead to a heart attack. Learn more about high cholesterol and heart attack and what other conditions high cholesterol contributes to.
- Causes of High Cholesterol: Diet and DNA are the main causes of high cholesterol. Learn why the numbers might be high in your case.
- How to Lower Cholesterol: Like many conditions, eating right and exercising helps control cholesterol. Learn what that means for you.
- How Cholesterol Works: Cholesterol is essential to the body. Find out why we need it and how much is too much.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
