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.

blood pressure diastolic and systolic
Measuring Blood Pressure, what the numbers mean.
In a single day your blood pressure may vary by 30 to 40 mmHg systolic with similar proportionate changes in diastolic pressure.

Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, and Pulse
Systolic blood pressure was linearly related to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in younger and elderly participants. The association of diastolic

Re: Regarding Diastolic and Systolic blood pressure
Re: Regarding Diastolic and Systolic blood pressure. Area: Anatomy Posted By: David Schneider, Faculty Health Sciences Date: Fri May 23 22:38:39 1997

Blood pressure measurement
Both the systolic and diastolic pressure measurements are important - if either one is raised, it means you have high blood pressure (hypertension).

Translating Blood Pressure Numbers
Normal blood pressure is thus usually said to be 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) or less, measured in millimeters of mercury (abbreviated as mm Hg).

Blood Pressure Hypertension Systolic Diastolic
Information about a study that finds blood pressure numbers too high for many.

Systolic -- Not Diastolic -- Blood-Pressure Reading Should Define
Systolic blood pressure, the first -- or higher -- number in a blood-pressure reading, is the important factor in determining whether a person has

Blood pressure - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When blood flow is nil (cuff pressure exceeding systolic pressure) or unimpeded (cuff pressure below diastolic pressure), cuff pressure will be essentially

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure of blood in the artery when the heart contracts. It is

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

What is blood pressure?
Note: When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level.


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