Cholesterol Apheresis

Cholesterol and triglycerides, Cholesterol Apheresis

In order to know how to control cholesterol levels in your body, you must be aware of the terms initially. Here, cholesterol and other such substances are better described.

Cholesterol and triglycerides, both are forms of lipids, necessary for the normal functions of life. Cholesterol is essential for the formation of cell membranes and manufacture of many essential hormones. And triglycerides, high-energy fatty acid chains, provide energy necessary for the normal functioning of cells.

The two main sources for cholesterol and triglycerides are dietary and endogenous (produced in the body). Dietary sources are from animal products. Such lipids are taken in through the gut, transferred via the blood stream to the liver, where the lipids are processed.

The main liver function is to initially ensure that all the body tissues are delivered enough cholesterol and triglycerides required for their functioning. Liver absorbs the cholesterol and triglycerides whenever needed and possible from the blood. When the dietary cholesterol is unavailable in the bloodstream, the liver manufactures its own cholesterol and triglycerides.

The liver later packs cholesterol and triglycerides in association with proteins into little spheres known as lipoproteins, which are released into blood to be transferred to the cells. The cells can extract the cholesterol and triglycerides when required by them from the lipoproteins.

LDL refers to low-density lipoproteins and HDL refers to high-density lipoproteins. In general, the LDL passes the bad cholesterol and HDL passes the good cholesterol. The problem is that most of the cholesterol comes from LDL and only a little proportion from HDL. Hence the blood cholesterol level can be taken as the quantity of LDL cholesterol.
The reason behind the LDL cholesterol being called as bad cholesterol is that when its levels are high, it is likely to deposit on the walls of the blood vessels finally resulting in atherosclerosis which is a condition of arteries hardening due to these deposits. These form plaques which narrows the arteries resulting in heart attacks, strokes, etc. Hence a high LDL level is a major cause of heart diseases and stroke.

In spite of this, there is proof for increased HDL levels to lower the risk for heart diseases and vice versa. Hence HDL is referred to as good cholesterol. The reason for the protective nature of HDL is still undetermined except for the evidence that HDL serves as a vehicle that removes or cleans off the LDL deposits on the arterial walls. Likewise, the HDL carries off the bad cholesterol from blood vessels to liver for processing further.

Triglycerides are also part of the standard blood lipid profile, but there is no known medication for elevated levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides only in association with cholesterol levels increase the risk for heart diseases, but independently there has been no proven risk factor. It has been shown that HDL lowers as triglycerides increase their levels. There hence seems to be a risk when triglyceride levels rise, but still nobody has proved a proper medication.