Download Cholesterol and Triglycerides - The Bronx High School of Science

Cholesterol and Triglycerides
What are triglycerides?
• Type of lipid found in your blood
• Store unused calories in your fat cells
• Hormones release triglycerides for energy
between meals
• May have high levels if you regularly eat
more calories than you burn
Why do triglycerides matter?
High triglyceride levels may contribute
to atherosclerosis, which increases
the risk of stroke, heart attack, and
heart disease.
What triglyceride levels are
considered normal?
• Normal – Less than 150 milligrams per
deciliter of blood (mg/dL)
• Borderline high – 150 to 199 mg/dL
• High – 200 to 499 mg/dL
• Very High – 500 mg/dL or above
*Optimal triglyceride level is 100 mg/dL
or lower (per American Heart Association)
How can someone best lower their
triglyceride levels?
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Lose weight
Cut back on calories
Avoid sugary and refined foods
Limit the cholesterol in diet
Choose healthier fats
Eliminate trans fat
Limit alcohol consumption
Exercise regularly
Take medication (niacin, statins, etc.)
How do triglycerides differ from
cholesterol?
• Both circulate throughout your body with
the help of lipoproteins
• Triglycerides store unused calories and
provide your body with energy
• Cholesterol is used to make hormones,
vitamin D, and substances that help you
digest foods
What is cholesterol?
Waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells.
• Dietary cholesterol – found only in
animal-based foods
• Blood cholesterol – made in the liver
Your body makes all of the cholesterol it
needs.
*Although 1) and 2) are chemically identical,
they don’t represent the same thing.
What are LDL and HDL? How do
they differ?
• LDL (low-density lipoprotein, “bad” cholesterol)
can build up on the inside of artery walls (known
as plaque), contributing to artery blockages and
heart attacks. Higher LDL levels mean higher
risk.
• Over time, plaque can cause atherosclerosis.
Large plaque areas can lead to chest pain called
angina, a common symptom of coronary heart
disease.
What are LDL and HDL? How do
they differ?
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein, “good”
cholesterol) carries cholesterol from other
parts of your body back to the liver, which
removes it from your body. Higher HDL
levels generally mean lower risk.
What causes High Blood
Cholesterol?
• What you eat (saturated fat, trans fat,
dietary cholesterol)
• Your weight (overweight increases LDL)
• Your activity level (being sedentary raises
LDL; activity raises HDL)
• Heredity
• Age and sex
What are the signs and symptoms
of HBC?
There usually are none.
Thus, everyone should have their
blood lipid profile checked at least
once every 5 years.
How is HBC Diagnosed?
Tests for total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and
triglycerides.
FOR TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
• Desirable – Below 200 mg/dL
(milligrams/deciliter of blood)
• Borderline High – 200-239 mg/dL
• High – 240 mg/dL and above
How is HBC Treated?
• TLC = Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes:
cholesterol-lowering diet, physical activity,
and weight management
• Drug Treatment (ex: statins, niacin)