Library · Cellular process
Cholesterol
Make it clearer
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance the body needs in appropriate amounts. It does not travel through blood on its own, so think of it as cargo inside microscopic carriers called lipoproteins.
LDL is one type of lipoprotein. High LDL cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. Cholesterol is the substance; a cholesterol test is the measurement. Neither term by itself establishes an individual diagnosis.
In brief
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance the body needs in appropriate amounts. Lipoproteins carry it through the bloodstream.
Think of cholesterol as cargo that travels through the bloodstream inside carrier particles called lipoproteins rather than moving freely on its own.
High LDL cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. Cholesterol itself is not the same as a cholesterol test or an individual diagnosis.
Sources (1)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIHBlood Cholesterol: What is Blood Cholesterol?Published
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated