Cholesterol is a natural component of the body that is vital to good health. It travels through your bloodstream in protein-lipid particles, known as lipoproteins. Two different classes of lipoprotein particles are LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, is linked to the development of heart disease and atherosclerosis, a process of depositing fatty substances in the lining of blood vessels. HDL cholesterol, popularly known as "good" cholesterol, helps to remove those plaques from the arteries, which help promote heart health.
Heart Disease
A patient may qualify for coronary heart disease when the blood levels of HDL cholesterol are less than 40 mg/dL, according to University of Nebraska. HDL cholesterol picks up fatty buildups in the arteries and transports them back to the liver for disposal in bile. Reduced HDL cholesterol levels can lead to a clogged artery. A cholesterol-clogged artery can lose its elasticity, making it more difficult for the blood to flow through it. When a coronary artery becomes blocked and the blood supply is completely cut off, the result is a heart attack.
Stroke
Low HDL levels are also closely linked to stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association. Reducing HDL cholesterol levels cannot remove excess cholesterol and arterial plaque. When an artery is thickened by plaque, it becomes narrowed and less flexible. It is the narrowing of the artery wall that causes less blood to flow through it. A stroke can happen when a blockage in your carotid artery reduces the blood supply to your brain.
High Pressure
Low HDL cholesterol levels can also cause high blood pressure. Normally, reduced HDL cholesterol levels correlate with increased concentrations of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is harmful to health because it carries the artery clogging cholesterol. When the arteries become clogged and narrowed, the space for the blood to pass is reduced. As a consequence, the same amount of blood stresses the walls of blood vessels, which may cause high blood pressure, notes the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Cholesterol Patient Education Handout
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Stroke and Cholesterol
- Texas AgriLife Extension Service: Cholesterol & Fats in Our Diet
- American Diabetes Association: Low HDL Cholesterol Is Associated With the Risk of Stroke in Elderly Diabetic Individuals
- University of Chicago: High Blood Cholesterol What you need to know
