Cholesterol is transported through the bloodstream in packages called lipoproteins.

Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL)

LDL is know as the "bad cholesterol".  Since LDL is actually a lipoprotein that carries cholesterol, we may refer to it as the "bad lipid" on this website.
LDL levels are closely correlated with total cholesterol levels.  This means that when total cholesterol levels go up, LDL will mostly likely go up.
LDL interacts with other substances and with certain cells to form plaque buildup on the artery walls, which makes it difficult for blood to flow freely to and from your heart.  This buildup is heart disease that can lead to chest pain or heart attack, with a real possibility of death.

Identifying and treating high LDL levels is the number one goal of cholesterol management.  The preferred medicine for reducing LDL and total cholesterol levels are statins.

LDL can be decreased by:

• Decreasing Saturated Fats and Trans-Fatty Acids in your diet
• Statins (Advicor, Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor)
• Niacin
• Exercise has minimal or no effect on LDL unless weight loss occurs
• LDL Apheresis is available for some people with "very high" or "extremely high" LDL levels

LDL can be increased by:

• High amounts of Saturated Fats in your diet
• High amounts of Trans-Fatty Acids in your diet (partially hydrogenated oil)
• Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
• Nephrotic (kidney) syndrome
• Chronic liver disease

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High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)

HDL is know as the "good cholesterol".  Since HDL is actually a lipoprotein that carries cholesterol, we may refer to it as the "good lipid" on this website.
HDL removes cholesterol from the blood and passes it to the liver to be processed and ultimately excreted. High levels of HDL can help protect the heart.

There is a race between LDL carrying cholesterol into the plaques and HDL removing cholesterol from the plaques. The outcome depends upon the balance of these two processes.

HDL can be increased by:

• Niacin
• Exercise
• Lowering Triglycerides
• Lose weight
• Stop Smoking
• Good control of diabetes
• Fibric Acid Derivatives

HDL can be decreased by:

• No regular exercise
• Weight gain
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• High Triglycerides
• Smoking
• Beta-Blocker medicines (DO NOT stop a Beta-Blocker without talking with your physician)

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Triglycerides

High Triglycerides are now an accepted independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD).  The importance of diagnosing and treating high triglycerides is underscored by the fact that it is often a marker for dangerous metabolic abnormalities, such as the metabolic syndrome. 

A variety of lifestyle and genetic factors may interact to produce high triglycerides.

Although our Lipid levels are primarily determined by genetics, Triglycerides are most often determined by our diets.

Triglycerides can be decreased by:

• Decreasing simple carbohydrates (sweets & sugars) in your diet
• Eat fewer total calories (low calorie diet)
• Losing weight
• Regular exercise
• Good control of diabetes
• Stop smoking
• Medicines like Fibric Acid Derivatives or Niacin or Fish Oil Supplements
• Switching from an Estrogen pill to a patch (talk with your physician)

Triglycerides can be increased by:

• Eating too many calories (from any foods)
• Eating too many simple carbohydrates (sweets/sugars - candy, cookies, cakes, soda pop, alcohol, fruit juice, etc.)
• Inactive lifestyle (no regular exercise and little daily activity)
• Smoking
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Being overweight / obese (especially around the waist)
• Estrogen replacement pills (talk with your physician)