High Cholesterol — Cholesterol
Diet — Lower Cholesterol — Medical
Dictionary
High cholesterol affects about 17% of Americans ages 20 and older,
contributing to atherosclerotic heart disease, which is the single leading
cause of death and disability in the developed world. This medical dictionary
covers the terms used in the report, What to do about High Cholesterol,
and includes details on how to lower and watch your cholesterol through tests
and diets.
antioxidant: A substance that
inhibits oxidation.
apolipoproteins: Proteins that
combine with cholesterol and triglyceride to
form lipoproteins.
atherosclerosis: Development
of cholesterol-rich plaque on the inner walls
of arteries, which can eventually obstruct blood
flow.
atherosclerotic plaque: A cholesterol-rich
deposit on an artery wall.
biological variability: Fluctuations
that occur naturally over time in the levels
of a substance such as cholesterol in a person’s
body.
cholesterol: A fatlike substance
that is produced by the liver and found in all
food from animal sources; an essential component
of body cells and a precursor of bile acids and
certain hormones.
chylomicron: A large, extremely
low-density lipoprotein that transports triglyceride
from the intestine to fat tissue in the body.
combined hyperlipidemia: A
condition in which LDL and triglyceride levels
are very high.
familial combined hyperlipidemia: An
inherited disorder in which the liver overproduces
VLDL, causing high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides,
or both.
familial hypercholesterolemia: An
inherited disorder in which the liver cannot
properly remove LDL particles from the blood,
causing a very high cholesterol level.
fasting lipid profile: A laboratory
test to determine the relative levels of HDL,
LDL, and total cholesterol in the blood. Also
referred to as a lipoprotein analysis, full lipid
profile, or cholesterol profile.
fatty acids: The primary building
blocks of lipids.
foam cells: Lipid-laden cells,
named for their foamy appearance under the microscope,
which contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic
plaque.
high-density lipoprotein (HDL): A
lipoprotein that protects the arteries by transporting
cholesterol from body cells to the liver for
elimination.
hydrogenation: The addition
of hydrogen to a compound, particularly to solidify
unsaturated oils.
lipids: Fats, oils, and waxes
that serve as building blocks for cells or as
energy sources for the body.
lipoproteins: Protein-covered
fat particles that enable cholesterol to move
easily through the blood.
low-density lipoprotein (LDL): A
lipoprotein that transports cholesterol from
the liver to the rest of the body, which can
cause the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
monounsaturated fats: Fatty
acids; abundant in olive, peanut, sesame, and
canola oils.
oxidation: A process in which
oxygen combines with a substance, altering its
structure and changing or destroying its normal
function.
platelets: Minute, colorless
disks in the blood that are instrumental in clotting.
polyunsaturated fats: Fatty
acids that are abundant in soybean, corn, cottonseed,
safflower, and sunflower oils.
saturated fats: Fatty acids
that are abundant in red meat, lard, butter,
cheese, and some vegetable oils, in which each
molecule carries the maximum number of hydrogen
atoms.
trans fats: Fatty acids (such
as those found in solid margarine) that have
been reshaped by hydrogenation; also called trans
fatty acids.
triglyceride: The primary type
of fat in the body and in the diet, formed from
three fatty-acid molecules and one glycerol molecule.
unsaturated fats: Fatty acids
in which some of the hydrogen atoms in each molecule
have been replaced by double bonds; includes
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL): A
lipoprotein that transports triglyceride manufactured
in the liver to fat tissue in the body; eventually
becomes low-density lipoprotein (LDL) after the
triglyceride has been removed.
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