 | Click the icon to see an image of the cut section of an artery. |
- Immune factors that increase the risk for blood clots are also mobilized.
- Oxidized LDL plays another dangerous role by reducing levels of nitric oxide, a chemical that helps relax the blood vessels and allow blood to flow freely.
Lowering LDL is the primary goal of cholesterol drug and lifestyle therapy.
High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), the "Good" Cholesterol
High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) appear to benefit the body in two ways:
- It removes cholesterol from the walls of the arteries and returns it to the liver.
 | Click the icon to see an image of the liver. |
- It helps prevent oxidation of LDL. HDL actually appears to have its own antioxidant properties.
HDL helps keep arteries open and reduces the risk for heart attack. High levels of high HDL (above 60 mg/dL) may be nearly as important for the heart as low levels of LDL. HDL levels below 40 mg/dL are considered to be harmful. In one study, for each 4 mg/dL decline in HDL levels there was a 10% increase in coronary artery disease.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are major troublemakers for the heart. They appear to interact with HDL cholesterol in such a way that HDL levels fall as triglyceride levels rise. Low HDL is known to be harmful to the heart.
The harmful imbalance of high triglycerides with low HDL levels is also associated with obesity (particularly around the abdomen), insulin resistance, and diabetes. Insulin is a hormone essential for regulating the storage and use of glucose (sugar) and amino acids (proteins) in the body. Insulin resistance occurs when there are normal levels of insulin but the body cannot use it. Insulin resistance increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and it is also associated with metabolic syndrome. Both of these conditions increase the risk for heart disease.
Some evidence also suggests that high triglycerides pose other dangers, regardless of cholesterol levels. Triglycerides, for example, may be responsible for blood clots that form and block the arteries. High triglyceride levels are also associated with the inflammatory response -- the harmful effect of an overactive immune system that can cause considerable damage to cells and tissues, including the arteries.
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