why is ldl cholesterol bad for your health?

Answer 1

LDL is a low density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are what carry lipids and cholesterol around our body. An LDL starts life as a Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), loaded with fats in the form of trigycerides and cholesterol. As it gives out the tryglycerides to cells for storage or energy, it eventually becomes an LDL containing mainly cholesterol. Now, every cell in our body needs cholesterol, that is why the liver produces it, so when a cell needs cholesterol it puts out a receptor so the LDL can dock into the cell. The LDL is then, in effect, swallowed up by the cell, dismantled and the cholesterol becomes available for use.
If all the cells in the body have enough cholesterol then they will not have the receptor, so the LDL cannot be utilised.
An LDL is no more sticky than any other lipoprtein, regardless of the garbage that others want to spew forth.

They can though be found in the inflammation surrounding an injury. They don't cause the injury (unless they are oxidised) just are part of the body's response. When something damages the lining of the artery, inflammation occurs and LDLs will be there in the body's attempt to utilise the cholesterol as part of the repair process.

Some of the people who suffer a heart attack will have elevated levels of LDL. Whatever causes this, is most likely what causes the heart attack

Nothing simply adheres to walls of out arteries (I can't beleive a nurse can be so ignorant), they are designed for this not to happen. Something must first damage the "non stick" lining called the endothelium.

Answer 2

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) belongs to the lipoprotein particle family. Its size is approx. 22 nm but since LDL particles contain a changing number of fatty acids they actually have a mass and size distribution. Each native LDL particle contains a single apolipoprotein B-100 molecule (Apo B-100, a protein with 4536 amino acid residues) that circles the fatty acids keeping them soluble in the aqueous environment.


Because LDLs transport cholesterol to the arteries and can be retained there by arterial proteoglycans starting the formation of plaques, increased levels are associated with atherosclerosis, and thus heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. This is why cholesterol inside LDL lipoproteins is called bad cholesterol. Still, it is not the cholesterol that is bad; it is instead how and where it is being transported, and in what amounts over time.

Increasing evidence has revealed that the concentration and size of the LDL particles more powerfully relates to the degree of atherosclerosis progression than the concentration of cholesterol contained within all the LDL particles[citation needed] . The healthiest pattern, though relatively rare, is to have small numbers of large LDL particles and no small particles. Having small LDL particles, though common, is an unhealthy pattern; high concentrations of small LDL particles (even though potentially carrying the same total cholesterol content as a low concentration of large particles) correlates with much faster growth of atheroma, progression of atherosclerosis and earlier and more severe cardiovascular disease events and death.

LDL is formed as VLDL lipoproteins lose triglyceride through the action of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and become smaller and denser, containing a higher proportion of cholesterol.

A hereditary form of high LDL is familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Increased LDL is termed hyperlipoproteinemia type II (after the dated Fredrickson classification).

LDL poses a risk for cardiovascular disease when it invades the endothelium and becomes oxidized since the oxidized form is more easily retained by the proteoglycans. A complex set of biochemical reactions regulates the oxidation of LDL, chiefly stimulated by presence of free radicals in the endothelium. Nitric oxide down-regulates this oxidation process catalyzed by L-arginine. Correspondingly when there are high levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in the endothelium, production of nitric oxide is inhibited and more LDL oxidation occurs
Because LDL appears to be harmless until oxidized by free radicals , it is postulated that ingesting antioxidants and minimizing free radical exposure may reduce LDL's contribution to atherosclerosis, though results are not conclusive.

Answer 3

LDL is deposited into the blood where it settles and causes blockages. This leads to increased blood pressure and coronary artery disease (blocking the arteries around the heart) That is what causes a heart attack.

HDL (good cholesterol) takes the ldl cholesterol out of the blood.

Answer 4

LDL stand for low density lipid. It means that kind of cholesterol is sticky, it adheres to the walls of your arteries and veins and over time will obstruct them, that is what causes most heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease.

Answer 5

LDL lipoprotein is NOT at all bad for your health This MYTH is a product of very ignorant people. I can not believe the STUPIDITY and COMPLETE IGNORANCE of reply of the nurse on here.

it is downright scary to have such completely ignorant people IN the medical profession treating you.





LDL is reposnsible for production of many vital hormones, protecting against infection and many more things.




LDL is just one SMALL component inside of an atherosclerotic plaque .


Atherosclerosis in humans develpos BETWEEN the INNER and OUTTER LAYER of the arterial wall


It is NOT wads of goo inside of a pipe.

It is MAINLY comprised of VERY HARD FIBROUS SCAR TISSUE AND SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS AND CALCIUM DEPOSITS

Answer 6

Hi Susan , No I would think if we restrict our intake of overly refined foods (white bread) etc & like what u have mentioned and instead ate more natural foods and vegetables,fruits,legumes etc. The instance of Type 2 Diabetes would not be so prevalent in todays fast food society In other words everything in moderation and then only as a treat when it comes to sugary ,salty foods.,♥

Answer 7

cause too much and it shows your about to have mi (heart attack)