LDL cholesterol is the low density lipoprotein cholesterol which belongs to lipoprotein family.
LDL cholesterol is the bad cholesterol. The cholesterol present in your body cannot be dissolved in the blood.
This cholesterol, which is not dissolved in the blood should be transported to and from the cells with the help of lipoproteins carriers.
These LDL particles have mass and size particles, which have the nature of changing number of fatty acids.
If more bad cholesterol is circulated in your blood, then this will slowly feed on your heart and brain by building up in your inner walls of the arteries. This cholesterol forms a hard deposit called plaque together with other substances.
This hard and thick deposit will make your arteries narrow and less flexible. This condition with hard and thick deposit is called atherosclerosis. This condition results in the heart attack or heart stroke.
You can estimate the risks of heart diseases from the below mentioned LDL cholesterol levels:
If your LDL values are raised then you can determine that you are suffering from heart disease.
- If your LDL level is less than 100mg/dl, then you are at optimal level with low risk of heart disease.
- If your LDL level is 100 to 129 mg/dl, then you are at above optimal level.
- If your LDL level is 130 to 159 mg/dl, then you are at borderline high risk of heart disease.
- If your LDL level is 160mg/dl or more, then you are at higher risk of heart disease.
Even though you are healthy, you should measure the LDL levels. If you are feeling ill, then your LDL values become temporarily low and this results in the immediate heart attack. So, if you fell ill you should wait for six weeks for measuring LDL values.
If you are pregnant women then your cholesterol level will raise to high level. So, after giving birth to a baby you should wait six weeks to have LDL cholesterol measured. If you lower your LDL cholesterol levels in the initial stage then you can protect yourself against heart disease.
If you perform test for LDL cholesterol then you can estimate the risk of heart problems. LDL cholesterol is the vital form of all the forms of cholesterol which helps in determining risks of heart disease. According to the values of LDL cholesterol, treatment is performed for the heart disease.
Lipid profile LDL levels are added for screening profile for routine physical exam of healthy person.
You can lower your LDL values by taking healthy diet. You can also reduce LDL cholesterol levels to 10% by adding the plant sterols to your diet. If you reduce LDL cholesterol level then you can protect yourself from damaging effects.
If this healthy eating, exercises and other changes will not work on you, then after waiting three to six months consult doctor and take alternate treatment for maintaining LDL cholesterol.
