The body needs cholesterol to make hormones and bile acid, as well as to synthesize vitamin D. Since cholesterol can't dissolve in blood, it combines with proteins to move through the body, forming LDL and HDL. The body doesn't need much...
HDL, also called high density lipoprotein or good cholesterol, picks up excess cholesterol in your blood and transports it to your liver to be broken down, according to MayoClinic.com. The desirable amount of HDL for adults is 60 mg per dL. The...
Cholesterol is a fat soluble substance that serves as a building block for hormones such as testosterone and is a component of cell membranes. The two types of cholesterol are LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol, or good...
Zocor is the brand name for simvastatin, one of several statin drugs designed to lower the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Coronary heart disease begins when excess cholesterol builds up on the inner lining of the arteries...
Niacin, a member of the B complex family, has been used for decades to treat high triglycerides and other lipid abnormalities. The term "niacin" is used to describe two nutritionally equivalent compounds -- nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, or...
HDL cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is considered to be good cholesterol since it tends to remove plaque and excess LDL, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, from the arteries. These compounds are carried to the liver...
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 98.6 million adults over the age of 20 have cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dl - the diagnostic threshold for having hypercholesterolemia. High cholesterol is a primary risk factor for heart...
Changes in lifestyle, such as exercise, diet and weight management, are often all that is necessary to manage your cholesterol. However, in some cases, lifestyle change alone is simply not enough. Depending on your family history and the status of...
Niacin, prescribed for more than 50 years, has proven successful in treating cholesterol. But you should not take inositol hexanicotinate, an over-the-counter remedy, to clear lipids from your bloodstream. Although both niacin and inositol...
High serum total and LDL cholesterol levels are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. They can increase risk of complications and mortality in patents with heart disease. The American Heart Association says doctors can use drug therapy in...
Cholesterol is not a harmful substance to your body when it's present in the right amounts. Its job is to protect you and aid in all-important cell formation. Unfortunately many outside factors prevent it from doing the job it's meant to do....
Cholesterol is a necessary substance required for good health. But too much of it can increase your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. This waxy substance is involved in making hormones, bile and vitamin D, according to the...
Cholesterol is a type of fat in the body that is necessary for the formation of cells and release of hormones. Total cholesterol is based on a ratio of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Your LDL level is your bad...
Vitamin E is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. That means that it is stored in the body fat and is transported via fats and oils. It is a powerful antioxidant and has been studied in conjunction with many diseases. Vitamin E interferes with the...
Your cholesterol is made of two types. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, causes clogged arteries. HDL is your "good" cholesterol because it rounds up LDL and takes it to the liver for disposal. Having a low level of LDL and a high level of HDL is what...
Triglycerides are the chemical form of fats found in the human body. HDL is high-density lipoprotein, which is a type of cholesterol that provides protective benefits to the heart. When triglyceride levels are high and HDL levels are low, the risk...
HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol, but most Americans are more focused on making sure they don't have too much "bad" LDL cholesterol. Low levels of HDL can have equally deleterious effects on health, and especially mental health,...
If natural methods fail or if your LDL levels are so high that you are at risk of a heart attack or other serious complications, talk to your doctor about statins, a type of drug that significantly reduces the risk of complications. Statins must...
Cholesterol is a type of lipid that travels in your blood in a complex with protein and triglycerides, called a lipoprotein. Your body needs cholesterol to build cell membranes, to produce hormones and for many biochemical reactions. But when your...
If the results of your latest physical show that your cholesterol is high, you're probably anxious to do something about it. High cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. It can also increase your risk of suffering from a heart...
A number of cholesterol-lowering medications are available to reduce your cholesterol levels. Although all are effective, not every one works for every type of cholesterol problem. Some might work better for your LDL, or bad, cholesterol, while...
Fenofibric acid (Fibricor) is used together with proper diet to lower triglyceride (fat-like substances) levels and cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as raise the amount of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) in the blood, as reported by...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), triglycerides are a type of cholesterol, or fat. When measuring triglyceride levels, a physician will also measure low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL,...
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, it is one of the many lipoproteins involved in the transport of cholesterol. HDL is sometimes called "good" cholesterol because it primarily removes cholesterol from the blood and sends it to the liver. Increasing...
While the word "cholesterol" typically carries a negative connotation, this substance, naturally produced in the liver, actually serves a variety of purposes in the body. Factors such as genetics and poor diet can lead to elevated cholesterol,...
Doctors have an array of medications to choose from to treat high cholesterol. Some lower your "bad" cholesterol, whereas others raise your "good" cholesterol. Before taking these drugs, you should know how they work and what side effects may...
Statins are medications used to treat abnormal cholesterol levels. These drugs target LDL, or bad cholesterol, production to reduce your risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease. Some statin drugs can modestly increase your HDL, or...
Cholesterol is composed of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which are the bad kind, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which are the good kind. When your cholesterol levels become elevated, your risk for heart attacks and strokes goes up due to...
Niacin is a B vitamin and should be a part of a healthy diet. Niacin can provide you with some protective properties. In recent years, niacin has become more accepted as a treatment for high cholesterol. Niacin is available as a prescription drug...
