Cholesterol Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Cholesterol Cholesterol producers Cholesterol and diet Definition Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body. Your body makes some cholesterol, and some cholesterol comes from the food you eat. Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. This article focuses on cholesterol and your diet. See also: HDL test ("good" cholesterol) LDL test ("bad" cholesterol) Lipid profile High blood cholesterol and triglycerides Alternative Names Diet - cholesterol Function Cholesterol helps the body produce hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream to be used by all parts of the body. Food Sources Cholesterol is found in eggs, dairy products, meat, and poultry. Egg yolks and organ meats (liver, kidney, sweetbread, and brain) are high in cholesterol. Fish generally contains less cholesterol than other meats, but some shellfish are high in cholesterol. Foods of plant origin (vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals, nuts, and seeds) contain no cholesterol. Fat content is not a good measure of cholesterol content. For example, liver and other organ meats are low in fat, but very high in cholesterol. Side Effects In general, your risk of developing heart disease or atherosclerosis goes up as your level of blood cholesterol increases. Recommendations More than half of the adult population has blood cholesterol levels higher than the desirable range. Continue reading this article

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High blood cholesterol and triglycerides (3 Videos, 2 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The medical term for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides is lipid disorder. Such a disorder occurs when you have too many fatty substances in your blood. These substances include cholesterol and triglycerides. A lipid disorder increases your risk for atherosclerosis and heart disease. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/23/2008
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LDL test (3 Videos, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The LDL test measures how much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) you have in your blood. LDL is a type of cholesterol. Too much LDL in the blood can clog arteries. See also: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) test; Total cholesterol test; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/23/2008
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HDL test (3 Videos, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
HDL stands for high density lipoprotein, a form of "good" cholesterol. Lipoproteins are proteins in the blood that move cholesterol, triglycerides, and other fats, called lipids, to various parts of the body. This article discusses the blood test used to measure levels of HDL cholesterol in your blood. See also: LDL test ("bad" cholesterol; Lipid profile; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides; Total cholesterol test. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, FACC, Asst. Clinical Prof. of Med, NY Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/20/2008
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VLDL (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
VLDL stands for very low density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are substances made of cholesterol, and triglyceride, and proteins. They move cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipids to different parts of the body. There are three major types of lipoproteins. VLDL contains the highest amount of triglycerides. VLDL is considered a type of bad cholesterol, because it helps cholesterol build up on the walls of arteries. This article discusses the laboratory test to measure the amount of VLDL in your blood. See also: High density lipoprotein; Low density lipoprotein. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/23/2008
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Cholesterol test (2 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A total cholesterol test is a rough measure of all the cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance found in all parts of the body. Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. Some cholesterol is considered "good" and some is considered "bad." Different blood tests are needed to individually measure each type of cholesterol. See also: HDL test ("good" cholesterol; LDL test ("bad" cholesterol; Lipid profile; High blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/22/2008
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Familial hypercholesterolemia (4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a condition passed down through families in which a person has high levels of "bad" cholesterol (low density lipoprotein, or LDL) beginning at birth. The condition can cause heart attacks at an early age. See also: Familial combined hyperlipidemia; Familial hypertriglyceridemia; Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/23/2008
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Familial combined hyperlipidemia (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Familial combined hyperlipidemia is a disorder of high cholesterol and high blood triglycerides that is passed down through families. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/23/2008
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Fat free diet and children (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Children and fat free diets Children over age of 2 can eat low-fat and nonfat foods. Fruits and vegetables are healthy snack foods. Children should be taught healthy eating habits early, so they may continue them throughout life.Reviewer: Leisha M. Andersen, M.D., Private Practice specializing in Pediatrics, Denver, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/14/2007
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Margarine vs. butter (1 Video, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Butter vs. margarine Is margarine healthier than butter? Neither is ideal, because butter is loaded with saturated fat, and almost all margarines have some saturated fat and trans fatty acids. However, if you must use one or the other, margarine m...Reviewer: Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD, family physician specializing in nutrition, fitness, and preventive health, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, and Assistant Clinical Professor, St. Louis University's School of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine.Date: 08/06/2007
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Heart disease and vitamin E (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin E and heart disease; Tocopherol and heart disease Antioxidants such as vitamin E (also called tocopherol) protect cells in the body from oxidation. Oxidation is a process that leads to cell damage. It may play an important role in atherosc...Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/06/2006
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Losing weight (30 Videos, 8 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
To successfully lose weight, you must carry out a plan to balance your caloric intake with exercise. Ideally, dieting should be done by eating a nutritionally balanced, low-calorie diet and increasing physical activity. Related topics: Obesity; Overweight; Unintentional weight loss. Reviewer: Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD, family physician specializing in nutrition, fitness, and preventive health, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, and Assistant Clinical Professor, St. Louis University's School of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine.Date: 08/08/2007
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Cholesterol and Statins. in Tech Medicine - 2 years 301 days ago

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