What is LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol?
Low-density lipoprotein is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. A clot (thrombus) that forms near this plaque can block the blood flow to part of the heart muscle and cause a heart attack. If a clot blocks the blood flow to part of the brain, a stroke results. A high level of LDL cholesterol (130 mg/dL and above for people without heart disease or risk factors and 100 mg/kL for those with heart disease) reflects an increased risk of heart disease. That’s why LDL cholesterol is often called “bad” cholesterol. Lower levels of LDL cholesterol reflect a lower risk of heart disease. What is HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol? About one-third to one-fourth of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipo
