What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol). Cholesterol is a lipid found in the cell membranes of all tissues, and it is transported in the blood plasma of all animals. Because cholesterol is synthesized by all eukaryotes, trace amounts of cholesterol are also found in membranes of plants and fungi.The name originates from the Greek chole- (bile) and stereos (solid), and the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol, as researchers first identified cholesterol in solid form in gallstones by Francois Poulletier de la Salle in 1769. However, it is only in 1815 that chemist Eugene Chevreul named the compound "cholesterine".[2]Most of the cholesterol is synthesized by the body and some has dietary origin. Cholesterol is more abundant in tissues which either synthesize more or have more abundant densely-packed membranes, for example, the liver, spinal cord and brain. It plays a central role in many biochemical processes, such as the composition of cell membranes and the synthesis of steroid hormones. Cholesterol is insoluble in blood, but is transported in the circulatory system bound to one of the varieties of lipoprotein, spherical particles which have an exterior composed mainly of water-soluble proteins. The main types, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) carry cholesterol from and to the liver.According to the lipid hypothesis, abnormally high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia) and abnormal proportions of LDL and HDL are associated with cardiovascular disease by promoting atheroma development in arteries (atherosclerosis). This disease process leads to myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke and peripheral vascular disease. As high LDL contributes to this process, it is termed "bad cholesterol", while high levels of HDL ("good cholesterol") offer a degree of protection. The balance can be redressed with exercise, a healthy diet, and sometimes medication.

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Definition of Blood pressure. Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the

Blood pressure definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of
High blood pressure: Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is, by definition, a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a

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Diastolic blood pressure; Systolic blood pressure. Definition Return to top. Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Blood pressure
The force of circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is taken using two measurements: systolic (measured when the heart beats,

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Definition of blood pressure in the Medical Dictionary. blood pressure explanation. Information about blood pressure in Free online English dictionary.

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There is an exception to the above definition of high blood pressure. A blood pressure of 130/80 or higher is considered high blood pressure in persons with

What is blood pressure?
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Pulse pressure is the difference between the maximum and minimum blood A person with normal blood pressure (120/80) will have a pulse pressure of 40

Pulse Pressure Definition
Definition of blood pressure from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary with audio pronunciations, thesaurus, Word of the Day, and word games.

blood pressure - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
The heart is a pump designed to force blood through our body. Blood is pumped from the heart through the arteries out to our muscles and organs.


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