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Cholesterol is a chemical compound that naturally occurs in the body. Excess cholesterol in the blood, however, may clog, narrow or even block arteries. Thus, a high cholesterol level is a major risk factor for a heart disease and stroke. The cholesterol associated with those risks is called “bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL). “Good” cholesterol, called high-density lipoprotein or HDL, helps to metabolize the excess of the substance. Calculating the ratio between the “good” and “bad” cholesterol allows you to estimate your risk level.
A ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of several measurements which may appear as part of a cholesterol test or lipid profile. It may be helpful to predict heart disease, as it measures the ratio between "good cholesterol" to "bad cholesterol." However, some experts recommend using total cholesterol numbers as a predictor of heart disease. HDL is considered "good cholesterol" because it can carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's broken down and eliminated, according to the American Heart Association.
Cholesterol is responsible for building healthy cells, according to the Mayo Clinic. Having too much LDL cholesterol, however, causes fatty deposits in the arteries, which prevents the heart from getting enough oxygen. This increases the chances of health issues, such as stroke and heart disease. Risk factors for high cholesterol include smoking, obesity, poor nutrition, inactivity, high blood pressure and a family history of heart disease.
Cholesterol: the bane of millions of overeaters across America. High blood cholesterol can lead to plaque deposits that increase a person's risk of heart attacks and strokes. Although cholesterol in itself is a natural compound the body requires, an oversupply of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is harmful if not treated by appropriate diet modification, exercise and possibly cholesterol-lowering drugs to stay within the cholesterol guidelines.
According to health professionals---including the American Heart Association---high cholesterol often leads to heart attack and/or stroke. However, the true risk of your cholesterol level is often quite difficult to calculate. While low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) will clog your arteries over time, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) actually protects you against heart attack and stroke. Thus, you will want a low LDL and a high HDL. One of the best indicators of true risk is the ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol. To calculate your ratio and evaluate your risk, all you need is a complete lipid profile that will measure both…
Lipoproteins carry cholesterol through the bloodstream. Cholesterol produced by the liver is combined with protein in order to move the cholesterol throughout the body. There are four types of lipoproteins classified based on density: chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL and HDL. The density is based on the fat to protein ratio (lower density has a greater fat to protein content).
