Cholesterol is necessary to make certain hormones. Cholesterol also plays a role in making some of the substances required to digest food. Cholesterol travels in the blood in the form of lipoproteins, which are tiny molecules of fat wrapped in protein.
From the liver, the excess LDL cholesterol is removed from the body. The liver plays another key role in cholesterol. Most of your cholesterol is made in your liver. The rest comes from the food you eat. Dietary cholesterol is found only in animal food sources, such as eggs, meat, and poultry. High LDL levels may be lowered by medications, such as statins, as well as regular exercise and a healthy diet.
In fact, lower cholesterol is better than high cholesterol most of the time. While the exact effects of low cholesterol on health are still being studied, researchers are concerned about how low cholesterol appears to negatively affect mental health.
An Duke University study of healthy young women found that those with low cholesterol were more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety. Researchers suggest that because cholesterol is involved in making hormones and vitamin D, low levels may affect the health of your brain. Vitamin D is important for cell growth. A study presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions found a possible relationship between low cholesterol and cancer risk. The process that affects cholesterol levels could affect cancer, but more research is needed on the topic.
One other concern about low cholesterol involves women who may become pregnant. If you tend to have low cholesterol, talk with your doctor about what you should do in this case. For people with high LDL cholesterol, there are often no symptoms until a heart attack or stroke occurs. Depression and anxiety can spring from many causes, including possibly low cholesterol. Symptoms of depression and anxiety include:. Risk factors for low cholesterol include having a family history of the condition, being on statins or other blood pressure treatment programs, and having untreated clinical depression.
The only way to properly diagnose your cholesterol levels is through a blood test. In this review, we summarize information from studies of human cellular and organ physiology, phenotypic characterization of rare genetic diseases of lipid metabolism, and experience from clinical trials. Specifically, we emphasize the importance of the robustness of the regulatory systems that maintain balanced fluxes and levels of cholesterol at both cellular and organismal levels.
Even at extremely low LDL-C levels, critical capacities of steroid hormone and bile acid production are preserved, and the presence of a cholesterol blood-brain barrier protects cells in the central nervous system. This can cause angina chest pain , or if the blood flow is completely blocked, a heart attack. A blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including LDL. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history.
The general recommendations are:. With LDL cholesterol, lower numbers are better, because a high LDL level can raise your risk for coronary artery disease and related problems:.
Some people with familial hypercholesterolemia FH may receive a treatment called lipoprotein apheresis. This treatment uses a filtering machine to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. Then the machine returns the rest of the blood back to the person. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is cholesterol? It is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body. How can a high LDL level raise my risk of coronary artery disease and other diseases?
How do I know what my LDL level is? The general recommendations are: For people who are age 19 or younger: The first test should be between ages 9 to 11 Children should have the test again every 5 years Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke For people who are age 20 or older: Younger adults should have the test every 5 years Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years What can affect my LDL level?
Things that can affect your LDL level include Diet.
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