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 head
Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapy : Blood pressure variability during
Blood pressure variability during 120â“day head-down bed rest in humans Blood pressure in head-down bed rest (HDBR) has an intrinsic peculiar rhythm due

Correlation of Postural Blood Pressure Test and Head-Up Tilt Table
Methods: We prospectively studied the correlation of postural blood pressure test (PBT) and head-up tilt table test (TT) in patients with recurrent

Blood pressure in head-injured patients -- Mitchell et al. 78 (4
Conclusions: Patients with head injury appear to have a near normal distribution of blood pressure readings that are skewed towards higher values.

Cool Head Now = Good Blood Pressure Later
Advice to young adults: Don't overreact so much. Staying cool now, reduces high blood pressure risk later on, a new study shows.

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Head Injury, Blood Pressure May Predict Alzheimer's Risk. Mental agility and taking Vitamin E, among other factors, may help folks avoid Alzheimer's disease

Brain Foundation - Colin Blood Pressure Monitor for Severe Head
Colin Blood Pressure Monitor for Severe Head Injury. Dr Erhard Lang and Dr Nick Dorsch, Department of Neurosurgery, Westmead Hospital

Intracranial pressure - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Another way to lower ICP is to raise the head of the bed, allowing for venous drainage. A side effect of this is that it could lower pressure of blood to

high blood pressure in head? - Neurology - MedHelp
Blood in semen pressurePressure ulcer is typically 130/80not high enough to cause such dramatic symptoms so I ask, can there be something that causes

High Blood Pressure
Head injury may raise the pressure inside the brain, which affects the body's ability to regulate blood pressure normally.

Blood Pressure Elevated and Pulsing in head and back - Heart
This is a discussion on MedHelp about Blood Pressure Elevated and Pulsing in head and back. Community members of MedHelp provide help, support, guidance and


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