Serum Cholesterol and How it Affects your Health
Cholesterol is a type of sterol that is essential for the body. For new cells to form and old ones to repair after injury, cholesterol is needed. In the body, cholesterol appears like a waxy compound. There are two sources of cholesterol; the body and food people eat. The body manufacturers a large amount of cholesterol in the liver, and small amounts are synthesized in individual cells and small intestine.
Whenever the body needs cholesterol, it is able to produce it in the liver. Besides, foods people eat add cholesterol in body such as dairy and animal products. Cholesterol assists in the synthesis of hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Although high cholesterol in body is associated with heart disease, there are many benefits of this substance in body.
What is serum cholesterol?
Serum cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in blood. Not all cholesterol is bad for your body as some types are beneficial while others are harmful. Your liver packages cholesterol into lipoproteins, which are carrier molecules that transport the cholesterol substance through blood stream to cells of tissues that need them.
Lipoproteins are a combination of lipids or fats and proteins. The core part of lipoprotein is made up of lipids while the outer surface consists of phospholipids, apoproteins, as well as cholesterol. The lipoprotein carrier molecules differ in the ratio of apoprotein and lipids, which they contain. There are mainly two types of cholesterol and they include low-density lipoprotein- LDL and high-density lipoprotein- HDL.
How to measure and interpret serum cholesterol levels
Serum cholesterol in blood is measured through a test known as lipid profile or lipid panel. To measures the level of serum cholesterol, a person is asked to fast for a couple of hours normally about 9 to 12 hours. This is because taking food can affect the results of the test. A blood sample is drawn and taken for a test of the serum cholesterol levels in a lab.
The readings of the test results can help determine how the serum cholesterols are likely to affect the health of the body. If the serum cholesterol reading is below 200 milligrams per deciliter of serum, this is regarded as optimal or normal amount of cholesterol in body and person with this amount is considered to have low risks of suffering coronary heart disease.
A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dl is regarded as borderline or average amount of serum cholesterol in body. A person with this amount is considered to have a high risk of coronary heart disease. A lifestyle change as well as medication may be recommended by your doctor to manage the levels.
If a person has serum cholesterol levels of 240mg/dl and above, this is considered potentially risky. The person has twice the risk of suffering coronary heart disease than an individual with a serum cholesterol reading below 200mg/dl.
Whenever the body needs cholesterol, it is able to produce it in the liver. Besides, foods people eat add cholesterol in body such as dairy and animal products. Cholesterol assists in the synthesis of hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Although high cholesterol in body is associated with heart disease, there are many benefits of this substance in body.
What is serum cholesterol?
Serum cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in blood. Not all cholesterol is bad for your body as some types are beneficial while others are harmful. Your liver packages cholesterol into lipoproteins, which are carrier molecules that transport the cholesterol substance through blood stream to cells of tissues that need them.
Lipoproteins are a combination of lipids or fats and proteins. The core part of lipoprotein is made up of lipids while the outer surface consists of phospholipids, apoproteins, as well as cholesterol. The lipoprotein carrier molecules differ in the ratio of apoprotein and lipids, which they contain. There are mainly two types of cholesterol and they include low-density lipoprotein- LDL and high-density lipoprotein- HDL.
How to measure and interpret serum cholesterol levels
Serum cholesterol in blood is measured through a test known as lipid profile or lipid panel. To measures the level of serum cholesterol, a person is asked to fast for a couple of hours normally about 9 to 12 hours. This is because taking food can affect the results of the test. A blood sample is drawn and taken for a test of the serum cholesterol levels in a lab.
The readings of the test results can help determine how the serum cholesterols are likely to affect the health of the body. If the serum cholesterol reading is below 200 milligrams per deciliter of serum, this is regarded as optimal or normal amount of cholesterol in body and person with this amount is considered to have low risks of suffering coronary heart disease.
A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dl is regarded as borderline or average amount of serum cholesterol in body. A person with this amount is considered to have a high risk of coronary heart disease. A lifestyle change as well as medication may be recommended by your doctor to manage the levels.
If a person has serum cholesterol levels of 240mg/dl and above, this is considered potentially risky. The person has twice the risk of suffering coronary heart disease than an individual with a serum cholesterol reading below 200mg/dl.
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