LDL, also known as low-density lipoprotein, is a type of lipoprotein in your bloodstream.
Lipoproteins are a cluster of lipids and proteins, which are fatty substances that float in the bloodstream. Due to this structure, fats cannot circulate independently in the bloodstream in human beings. Lipoproteins are transporters that deliver fats to the cells in your body.
Low-density lipoprotein mainly consists of cholesterol in large quantities and proteins in small quantities. Excess amounts of bad cholesterol or LDL put your health in jeopardy of a stroke or heart disease.
To assess your cholesterol levels and overall heart health, a Lipid Profile test in ghaziabad is crucial. This test measures various types of cholesterol, including LDL, HDL (good cholesterol), triglycerides, and total cholesterol.
What is LDL cholesterol?
The majority of individuals seem to look at the two terms ‘LDL’ and ‘LDL cholesterol’ as being one and the same. LDL cholesterol is not necessarily negative. It does so because cholesterol is a compound that is vital for several processes to take place in your body. On the other hand, a certain amount of LDL cholesterol is needed, but it should not be too much.
What is the normal range for LDL cholesterol?
Most adults should aim to maintain their LDL cholesterol level at less than 100 mg/dL. If you have a history of atherosclerosis or if you are a smoker, diabetic, or have high blood pressure, your LDL level should be below 70 mg/dL. Certain patients need even stricter management if they have a strong history of coronary artery disease.
Healthcare providers use the following categories to describe your LDL cholesterol level:
- Normal LDL: Below 100 mg/dL
- Near-Optimal LDL: 100–129 mg/dL
- Borderline High LDL: 130–159 mg/DL
- High LDL: 160–189 mg/dL
- Very high LDL: 190 mg/dL or higher
What range of LDL is bad?
It is good to maintain your LDL below 100 mg/dL because if it is high, you will be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is tested via a routine blood test called a lipid profile by healthcare providers. This includes both your LDL cholesterol and your HDL cholesterol as well. HDL is considered good cholesterol because it aids in the transportation of extra cholesterol out of the bloodstream.
Normally, the doctors advise aiming for HDL cholesterol above 60 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to lower ones. If you ever have high LDL and low HDL, your provider might advise you to make some changes in your lifestyle or may prescribe you some medications to normalize your cholesterol levels.
What causes high LDL cholesterol?
Factors that affect your LDL include:
High-cholesterol foods include fats from meats, whole milk, butter, cakes, cookies, pies, doughnuts, popcorn, potato chips, frozen fried foods, and other fried foods. That’s because they are high in saturated fats and, in some cases, trans fats as well. These two sorts of fat tend to raise your LDL cholesterol.
- Your body weight: Overweight or obesity may increase your LDL cholesterol.
- Tobacco smoking or using any tobacco-related products. Smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, and vaping) reduces your HDL rate. You require a dose of HDL cholesterol to transport an extra amount of LDL cholesterol out of your blood. Thus, tobacco use lowers your HDL level and raises your LDL level.
- Medications: Certain medicines you take for control of your pressure or HIV are some of the medicines that will cause your LDL level to rise.
- Medical issues: These are conditions that actually predispose a person to have a higher LDL level, and they include diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, and HIV.
- Age: As one ages, he or she is bound to have high cholesterol levels as a natural consequence of ageing.
- Sex assigned at birth: postmenopausal women, that is, people assigned female at birth (AFAB), usually have a higher LDL level.
- Your genes: Your close biological family members’ high cholesterol levels could put you at a greater risk as well.
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Which foods increase the LDL cholesterol?
Foods that have loads of saturated fat are the ones that cause your LDL cholesterol to rise. Such foods include:
- Snacks such as doughnuts, cookies, and cake Baker products or bakery products.
- High-fat meats like beef, pork, and lamb; high-fat cheese; butter; whole milk; and cream.
- Beef and other meats, for instance, steaks, ribs, pork chops, and ground beef, among others.
- Bacon, frankfurters, hot dogs, and sizzling sausage.
- Any form of fried food, such as fried potatoes, fried chicken, and other fried foods.
Treatments for high LDL cholesterol
Cholesterol levels in particular require specific treatment depending on a person’s elevated LDL cholesterol. Prescribed medications Trusted sources may include:
- Statins: This medicine reduces the rate at which cholesterol is produced in the liver. And it helps the liver process cholesterol as well.
- Bile acid sequestrants: This medicine clears out bile acids from the body, and as a result, the body synthesizes bile acids from LDL cholesterol.
- Niacin: In the case of B vitamins, this one raises the levels of both HDL and LDL cholesterol.
- Fibrates: This medicine is useful in reducing levels of triglyceride in the body.
- PCSK9 inhibitors: Recipients of this medicine are those who have high risks of developing this disease known as familial hypercholesterolaemia.
For a lipid profile test in Ghaziabad or any other test, you should book your appointment at UniQpath Lab.
